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Fact check: How has ICE's arrest and deportation strategy changed from previous years?
Checked on June 13, 2025
1. Summary of the results
ICE's arrest and deportation strategy has undergone significant changes, with data showing:
- An increase to 135,000 deportations in the first 100 days of 2025 [1]
- Monthly arrests rose from 10,000 in February 2024 to 18,000 in recent counts [2]
- A fundamental shift from COVID-19 Title 42 authority to standard Title 8 immigration procedures since May 2023 [3]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
*Operational Changes:
- ICE has adopted more aggressive tactics, including:
- Ramming cars, breaking windows, and raiding churches [4]
- Using armored vehicles and masked agents in large numbers [5]
- Targeting locations like Home Depot and conducting intimidating operations [4]
Systemic Changes:
- Implementation of more sophisticated monitoring technologies and case management [3]
- Focus on intelligence-driven operations targeting national security risks [3]
- Expanded alternatives to detention programs [3]
Legal and Practical Constraints:
- Court backlogs and staffing limitations continue to restrict deportation growth [1]
- Evidence suggests operations sometimes occur outside legal constraints, including deportation of legally protected individuals [6]
**3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement**
Competing Narratives:
- The administration benefits from portraying the strategy as highly effective, promising "millions" of deportations, though actual numbers are more modest [2]
- Human rights organizations benefit from highlighting aggressive tactics and potential legal violations [6]
- ICE itself benefits from presenting its approach as more nuanced and professionally executed, emphasizing "targeted" and "intelligence-driven" operations [3]
Data Interpretation:*
While deportation numbers have increased, different stakeholders interpret this differently:
Want to dive deeper?
What specific policies has the current administration implemented regarding ICE enforcement priorities?
How do ICE deportation numbers in 2024-2025 compare to previous administrations?
What changes have been made to ICE's targeted enforcement operations since 2020?
How has ICE's approach to sanctuary cities evolved in recent years?
What impact have recent court decisions had on ICE's deportation authority?