Fact check: The data of ICE arrest in 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available data, ICE arrest statistics for 2025 show a significant increase in enforcement activity under the Trump administration's second term. During the first 100 days of President Trump's second term, ICE arrested 66,463 illegal aliens and removed 65,682 aliens, with three in four arrests being criminal illegal aliens ^[1].

The data reveals that ICE made 81% of initial book-ins from February to mid-May 2025, and the number of book-ins resulting from CBP arrests has not surpassed 5,000 in a month since January ^[2]. Interior enforcement has more than doubled, and the average number of people held in ICE detention has increased by 25% ^[3]. Additionally, there has been a dramatic shift in enforcement patterns, with the number of people being apprehended on the Southern Border plummeting while an increasing share of those held in immigration detention are people arrested by ICE ^[3].

ICE has prioritized enforcement on a wider group of people in the U.S. interior, including international students and people with humanitarian parole or pending asylum claims ^[2]. The operations have become faster and more discreet, particularly in locations like Los Angeles ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks crucial context about the criminal backgrounds of those arrested. Internal government documents obtained by CNN reveal that only a fraction of migrants booked into ICE custody since October have been convicted of serious violent or sexual crimes, with more than 75% having no criminal conviction other than an immigration or traffic-related offense ^[5]. This contradicts narratives that emphasize public safety as the primary justification for increased enforcement.

Historical comparison data is notably absent from the original statement. Obama deported more people than Trump during his first term, with over 3.1 million ICE deportations ^[6]. This context is important for understanding whether current enforcement levels represent an unprecedented escalation or a return to previous patterns.

The statement also omits information about detention alternatives and the broader immigration enforcement ecosystem. ICE provides statistics on removals, expulsions, and alternatives to detention ^[7], suggesting that arrest numbers alone don't tell the complete story of immigration enforcement policy.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement is extremely vague and lacks specificity, simply requesting "data of ICE arrest in 2025" without providing any actual figures or context. This vagueness could facilitate selective presentation of data to support predetermined narratives.

Political actors and advocacy groups on both sides benefit from emphasizing different aspects of ICE arrest data. Pro-enforcement politicians and organizations benefit from highlighting total arrest numbers and criminal arrests to justify expanded operations, while immigrant rights advocates benefit from emphasizing the high percentage of non-violent offenders to argue against aggressive enforcement policies.

The timing of data releases and media coverage also introduces potential bias. Recent sources from June 2025 ^{[5] [4] [6]} provide more current information than earlier sources, but the selection of which statistics to highlight and when to release them can be strategically timed to influence public opinion and policy debates.

Media outlets and government agencies may present the same data differently depending on their audience and objectives, with some emphasizing public safety achievements while others focus on humanitarian concerns about enforcement targeting individuals with minimal criminal backgrounds.