Fact check: Is ICE picking up ony illegals?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, ICE is not exclusively picking up only undocumented immigrants. The evidence reveals a more complex enforcement pattern:

• ICE targets individuals beyond undocumented immigrants, including green card holders and even U.S. citizens ^[1]
• 71.1% of the 56,945 people held in ICE detention as of July 27, 2025, have no criminal conviction ^[2], indicating enforcement extends beyond criminals
• ICE's Priority Enforcement Program focuses on individuals convicted of significant criminal offenses or who pose threats to public safety ^[3], but this doesn't limit operations to only undocumented individuals
• Recent directives show ICE has been ordered to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities while pausing arrests at farms, restaurants, and hotels ^{[4] [5]}

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several critical pieces of context:

• ICE enforcement priorities are driven by agency funding, capacity, and departmental priorities rather than a simple "illegals only" mandate ^[6]
• There are documented cases of violence, excessive use of force, and unlawful detention of U.S. citizens by ICE ^[7], suggesting enforcement errors affect legal residents
• ICE officers are facing an 830% increase in assaults ^[8], which may influence enforcement tactics and target selection
• The Trump administration's approach includes both expanded enforcement in certain areas and restrictions in others ^{[4] [5]}, showing selective enforcement rather than blanket operations

Political figures like Senator Richard Blumenthal benefit from highlighting ICE overreach to support immigration reform narratives ^[7], while the Department of Homeland Security benefits from emphasizing officer safety concerns to justify expanded enforcement powers ^[8].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question "Is ICE picking up only illegals?" contains an inherent assumption that ICE should or does exclusively target undocumented immigrants. This framing:

• Uses the term "illegals," which is considered dehumanizing language by immigration advocates
• Oversimplifies ICE's complex enforcement mandate that includes national security and public safety considerations beyond immigration status
• Ignores documented cases where legal residents and citizens have been detained ^{[1] [7]}
• Fails to acknowledge that enforcement priorities change based on administrative directives and available resources ^[6]

The question appears to seek confirmation of a narrow enforcement scope that doesn't align with the documented reality of ICE operations, which affect various categories of individuals regardless of their legal immigration status.