Fact check: How many illegal immigrants have been arrested since January 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available data, multiple figures have been reported for illegal immigrant arrests since January 2025:

• Over 352,000 arrests according to the Department of Homeland Security, which reported that the Trump administration arrested more than 352,000 illegal aliens and removed more than 324,000 during the first 200 days in office ^[1]
• Over 300,000 arrests according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who cited new statistics from the U.S. Border Patrol stating that more than 300,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested since President Trump took office in January ^[2]
• Over 109,000 arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement specifically during the first five months of President Trump's second term, which started on January 20, 2025 ^[3]
• 66,463 arrests by ICE during the first 100 days of Trump's second term ^[4]

The most comprehensive figure appears to be the 352,000+ arrests reported by DHS, which encompasses the broader federal law enforcement effort beyond just ICE operations.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original question:

• Criminal background focus: 70% of ICE arrests involved criminal illegal aliens with criminal charges or convictions in the U.S., indicating enforcement priorities beyond simple immigration violations ^[1]
• Geographic concentration: A majority of ICE arrests during Trump's first five months occurred in border and Southern states, showing regional enforcement patterns ^[3]
• Operational scale increase: ICE arrests have doubled compared to previous periods, and the number of people in detention has reached an all-time high ^[5]
• Enforcement challenges: ICE law enforcement officers are facing an 830 percent increase in assaults, highlighting operational difficulties ^[6]
• Specialized operations: Federal law enforcement executed targeted operations, such as criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo that resulted in at least 361 arrests ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral and factual in nature, simply requesting statistical information. However, potential areas of concern include:

• Terminology sensitivity: The use of "illegal immigrants" reflects specific political framing, as different administrations and organizations use varying terminology ("undocumented immigrants," "illegal aliens," etc.)
• Data source variations: The significant discrepancy between reported figures (ranging from 66,463 to 352,000+) suggests either different counting methodologies, time periods, or agency jurisdictions, which could lead to selective citation depending on political objectives
• Missing deportation context: The question focuses solely on arrests without considering removal/deportation numbers, which provides an incomplete picture of enforcement outcomes

The Trump administration and immigration enforcement agencies would benefit from highlighting higher arrest numbers to demonstrate enforcement effectiveness, while immigration advocacy groups might emphasize the human impact or question the methodology behind these statistics.