Story perspectives

Majority of ICE Arrests Targeting Individuals with No Criminal History

4/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

In 2025, 64% of Minnesota ICE arrests (5,998, December–February) involved people with no criminal history.
The surge followed the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent, triggering increased enforcement.
In Los Angeles, 39% of 14,394 ICE arrests involved individuals with no criminal charges.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disputed the findings, saying most arrests targeted serious criminals.
The data challenge the view that ICE focuses on dangerous individuals.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, abolished the National Origins Formula, which had favored Northern and Western Europeans since the 1920s. This landmark legislation significantly increased immigration from Asia and Africa, leading to over 1 million new arrivals annually by the 1970s, and reshaped the U.S. demographic landscape amid ongoing immigration enforcement debates.

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Story summary

In 2025, 64% of Minnesota ICE arrests (5,998, December–February) involved people with no criminal history.
The surge followed the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent, triggering increased enforcement.
In Los Angeles, 39% of 14,394 ICE arrests involved individuals with no criminal charges.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disputed the findings, saying most arrests targeted serious criminals.
The data challenge the view that ICE focuses on dangerous individuals.

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