Fact check: What is ICE targeting for deportation?

1. Summary of the results

ICE's targeting strategy is multi-faceted and includes:

• Interior arrests with a current average of 656 arrests per day, with plans to increase to 3,000 daily ^[1]
• Courthouse arrests, particularly targeting immigrants after their cases are terminated or dismissed ^[2]
• Individuals with final deportation orders, as demonstrated by specific cases like Jenny Carolina Lopez-Villela and Reachel Alexas Morales-Valle ^[3]
• Social media surveillance through a contracted monitoring system ^[4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are worth noting:

• The actual deportation numbers (135,000 in first 100 days of 2025) are significantly lower than some claims due to court backlogs and resource limitations ^[5]
• The administration is seeking funding to dramatically increase deportation capacity to 1 million annually ^[1]
• There are concerning reports of potential targeting of Native Americans, including Navajo and Apache tribe members, though these remain unconfirmed according to Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren ^[6]
• The courthouse arrest strategy appears designed to discourage legal asylum processes ^[7]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Several stakeholders benefit from different narratives:

• The Administration: Benefits from highlighting increased enforcement efforts and higher deportation targets to appeal to supporters of stricter immigration policies ^[1]
• ICE Leadership: Uses claims of "increased threats" to justify expanded surveillance powers and resources ^[4]
• Contractors: Stand to benefit financially from expanded surveillance contracts and detention facility operations ^[4]
• Immigration Advocates: Highlight courthouse arrests and potential tribal member targeting to demonstrate overreach ^{[7] [6]}

The reality is more complex than simple targeting criteria, involving a mix of policy changes, resource limitations, and various enforcement strategies that affect different communities in different ways.