Fact check: How many deportees under Trump had convictions for violent crimes?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available data, approximately 7% or fewer of deportees under Trump had convictions for violent crimes. The Cato Institute obtained nonpublic data showing that less than 7% of ICE book-ins were violent offenders, including murderers, rapists, and child molesters ^[1].

Specific arrest numbers during Trump's tenure include:

• 752 people convicted of homicide arrested from October 1 to May 31 ^{[2] [3]}
• 1,693 people convicted of sexual assault arrested during the same period ^{[2] [3]}
• 498 people accused or convicted of murder during Trump's first 100 days alone ^[4]

A detailed case study of 238 Venezuelan deportees found only 6 had been convicted of violent crimes in the US, with many having no criminal convictions or pending charges at all ^[5]. Additionally, nearly half of ICE detainees lacked any criminal record, and fewer than 30% had been convicted of any crimes ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about ICE's enforcement priorities and effectiveness. The data reveals that ICE arrested only 6% of known undocumented immigrant murderers and 11% of those convicted of sexual assault ^{[2] [3]}, suggesting significant gaps in enforcement despite Trump's promises to prioritize "hardened criminals."

The Trump administration would benefit from emphasizing individual cases of violent criminals being deported, as evidenced by White House communications highlighting specific examples of deportees with violent convictions ^[7]. However, this narrative omits that the majority of people ICE brought into custody had no victims at all ^[1].

Immigration advocacy groups would benefit from highlighting that most deportees lack violent criminal backgrounds, as this challenges the narrative that deportation efforts primarily target dangerous individuals. The data shows that 66,463 illegal aliens were arrested during Trump's first 100 days, but only a small fraction were violent offenders ^[4].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is neutral and factual, seeking specific data rather than making claims. However, the question could be misleading if used to suggest that most deportees were violent criminals. The evidence clearly shows the opposite - that violent offenders represented a small minority of those deported.

The absence of comprehensive, publicly available data creates opportunities for both sides to selectively present statistics. While the Trump administration highlighted individual cases of violent criminals being removed ^[7], the broader data obtained by independent organizations like the Cato Institute reveals that violent offenders comprised less than 7% of total ICE book-ins ^[1].

The question also lacks temporal specificity, as enforcement patterns and priorities may have varied throughout Trump's presidency, making it difficult to provide a single definitive answer without more granular data.