Fact check: What percentage of ICE detainees have violent criminal convictions versus minor offenses?

1. Summary of the results

The data shows that the majority of ICE detainees do not have violent criminal convictions. As of March 2020, 61.2% of detainees had no criminal conviction at all, with only 10.7% classified as having serious (Level 1) crimes ^[1]. This trend is further supported by more recent data showing that only 28% of 113,431 immigration arrests involved people with criminal convictions or pending charges ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

• Historical context shows a declining trend in violent offenders - Level 1 offenders decreased from 47% in 2015 to 34% in 2019 ^[3]
• Among serious offenders, the most common Level 1 offenses were:

Assault (16.6%)

Burglary (7.24%)

Drug trafficking (6.13%) ^[3]

ICE's decision-making process is more complex than just criminal history - they consider:

Immigration history

Family ties

Humanitarian issues

Individual circumstances ^[4]

• Level 3 offenses (minor infractions like traffic violations and marijuana possession) have become more common than Level 1 convictions ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself might suggest a binary classification between violent and minor offenses, when in reality:

• ICE uses a three-level classification system for offenses ^[1]
• Many detainees have no criminal record at all ^[1]
• There's a disconnect between political rhetoric and reality - while the Trump administration claimed to target violent criminals, the data shows a more nuanced picture ^[5]
• Different stakeholders benefit from different narratives:

Law enforcement agencies benefit from emphasizing serious criminal threats

Immigration advocacy groups benefit from highlighting the high percentage of non-violent detainees

• Politicians can use either narrative depending on their stance on immigration policy