How Many of the People Deported or Detained by ICE Are Actually “The Worst of the Worst?”- Elementary School

If you watch the news, you might see videos of officers from an agency called ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) arresting people. Sometimes these arrests look very rough, and people get hurt.

People have said that ICE needs to focus on deporting "the worst of the worst." That phrase means people who have committed dangerous, violent crimes like hurting others or stealing.

It makes sense that people want communities to be safe! But when researchers look closely at who ICE is actually arresting, the real numbers look very different from that promise.

Reports that study ICE arrests show that very few of the people taken by ICE are actually dangerous criminals:

• Only 5% are violent criminals: Out of all the people arrested by ICE, only about 5 out of every 100 people have been charged with or convicted of a serious, violent crime.

• 40% to 50% are non-violent: About half of the people arrested committed minor rules violations, like driving without a license or carrying bad items, but didn't hurt anyone.

• Up to 70% in holding did not commit crimes: Most people held in ICE detention centers are there for civil immigration rules. This means things like staying in the country past the date on their travel paper (visa) or crossing the border without permission.

Reports also show that ICE operations have stopped or arrested people who were not breaking laws at all, including U.S. citizens and kids:

• 782 people who were protesting, writing news stories, leading churches, or serving as city leaders.

• 214 children (including 32 who are U.S. citizens).

• 155 U.S. citizens.

Even though people have a legal right under the Constitution to stand up and speak out peacefully, some of those protestors were stopped by ICE agents.

While ICE does arrest some people who have committed serious crimes, the numbers prove that "the worst of the worst" is only a very tiny part of who they take into custody. Most of the people affected by ICE are non-violent, broke minor civil rules, or were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.