In early 2026, a heated debate emerged in U.S. national media over newly released federal data on immigration enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The conversation was triggered by a CBS News report highlighting internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) figures showing that only a small fraction of immigrants arrested had violent criminal records — raising questions about the focus of enforcement under President Donald J. Trump’s second term.
This article provides a detailed examination of the data, claims, rebuttals, and independent analysis to clarify the complex picture of ICE arrests from January 2025 through January 2026.
1. The CBS Report and DHS Data
In February 2026, CBS News obtained an internal DHS document detailing ICE enforcement activity between January 21, 2025 — the first full day of Trump’s second term — and January 31, 2026. Key takeaways from the data include:
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ICE made roughly 393,000 arrests during this period.
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Only 13.9% of those arrested had charges or convictions for violent crimes (including homicide, robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping, and other serious offenses).
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Approximately 60% of arrestees had some criminal history, though most were non-violent offenses such as drug possession, DUI, fraud, or burglary.
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Nearly 40% had no criminal record in the U.S., detained primarily for civil immigration violations like unlawful entry or overstaying visas.
Breakdown of Charges Among ICE Arrestees
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Homicide charges or convictions: ~2,100 individuals
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Sexual assault charges or convictions: ~5,400 individuals
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Robbery and assault: Tens of thousands combined
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Drug, weapons, DUI, and traffic offenses: Over 70,000 combined, many classified as non-violent
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Civil immigration violations only: Roughly 153,000 arrests
Legal experts note that labeling offenses as “non-violent” follows standard definitions, but some argue these crimes still pose substantial public safety concerns.
2. Trump Administration Response
The White House and DHS disputed the CBS report’s framing, arguing that the numbers do not tell the whole story.
a. Criminal History Context
Administration officials emphasized:
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60–70% of arrestees had criminal convictions or pending charges.
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Many individuals without U.S. criminal records could have serious offenses in their home countries.
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Certain non-violent offenses, such as human smuggling, drug trafficking, and fraud, may still pose threats to public safety.
DHS leadership stated that focusing solely on “violent crimes” in the CBS report ignores broader criminal involvement and enforcement context.
b. Enforcement Priorities
Trump administration messaging has consistently stated that ICE prioritizes the “worst of the worst” — including murderers, rapists, gang members, and terrorists. Critics argue the internal DHS data challenges this messaging, showing a significant number of arrests involve non-violent or civil immigration violations.
3. Independent Analysis
Researchers and immigration policy experts have offered additional perspectives on the data.
a. Civil Liberties and Immigration Scholars
Analyses by institutions such as the Cato Institute and the Deportation Data Project note:
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The proportion of ICE arrestees with no criminal record has increased.
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Only a small fraction are convicted of serious violent felonies.
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Arrests for minor offenses or civil violations are rising under current enforcement practices.
b. Reporting Challenges
Experts highlight difficulties in reconciling internal and public ICE data:
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Definitions of “violent vs. non-violent” crimes vary.
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International criminal history is not consistently captured.
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Numbers may differ across reports, complicating public interpretation.
As a result, simple statistics can be misleading without proper context.
4. Broader Enforcement Trends
Understanding ICE arrests requires context beyond percentages of violent offenders.
a. Surge in Arrests
Since January 2025:
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ICE enforcement actions have increased dramatically.
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Sweeps have extended into cities such as Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
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Interior arrests now include both non-violent offenders and civil immigration violators.
b. Public and Political Reactions
Expanded enforcement has generated:
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Nationwide protests and legal challenges.
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Public scrutiny over incidents involving families and children.
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Debates over the appropriateness of detaining individuals for civil immigration violations.
c. Media Framing
How the media reports data affects public perception:
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Emphasizing low percentages of violent offenders suggests enforcement may be overly broad.
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Highlighting pending charges or non-violent offenses argues that many arrests still involve risk to public safety.
The debate reflects broader polarization over immigration policy in the U.S.
5. Interpreting the Numbers
A careful analysis of the DHS data and independent research reveals:
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60% of ICE arrestees have criminal charges or convictions, including both serious and minor offenses.
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Under 14% are classified as violent criminals.
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40% are arrested solely for civil immigration violations.
Even non-violent offenses — such as DUI, burglary, and drug possession — can still raise safety concerns, though they differ legally from violent crimes.
6. Why This Matters
The controversy highlights key questions about U.S. immigration enforcement:
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Policy Priorities: Should ICE focus narrowly on violent offenders or broadly on civil violations?
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Media and Public Understanding: Framing and classification of arrests can shape perception and political debate.
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Legal and Civil Rights Concerns: Arresting individuals without criminal records raises questions about constitutional rights and humane treatment.
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Political Messaging vs. Reality: Discrepancies between claims and data can erode public trust.
Conclusion
The CBS report showing that fewer than 14% of ICE arrestees had violent criminal histories sparked intense debate over Trump-era immigration enforcement. While the administration emphasizes targeting violent criminals and the “worst of the worst,” the data indicates that a significant number of arrests involve non-violent offenses or civil immigration violations.
Understanding the nuances — including offense classifications, pending charges, and international criminal history — is essential for informed discussions about enforcement priorities, civil liberties, and public safety in America today.