ICE Arrests Surge 170% in Second Trump Term

Percentage of those arrested with criminal convictions drops to historic lows, study finds.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of California, Berkeley found that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests have spiked to unprecedented levels during President Donald Trump's second term, while the percentage of those arrested with criminal convictions has plummeted to near-historic lows.

Why it matters

The findings contradict the administration's stated focus on targeting "the worst of the worst" and raise concerns about the tactics used by ICE, with a significant increase in community arrests that are less likely to involve individuals with criminal records.

The details

Daily ICE arrests increased 170% following Trump's second inauguration in January 2025, compared to a 43% increase after his first inauguration in 2017. The percentage of arrested individuals with criminal convictions dropped from approximately 50% before Trump took office in January 2025 to below 30% by late 2025. Community arrests, conducted at workplaces, homes and public locations, more than doubled from 19% of all arrests before the second inauguration to 44% afterward.

  • In September 2015, ICE arrest data analysis began.
  • In January 2017, Trump's first inauguration occurred.
  • In January 2025, Trump's second inauguration took place.
  • By late 2025, the percentage of arrested individuals with criminal convictions dropped below 30%.
  • In June 2025, a large-scale ICE operation took place in Los Angeles.
  • In September 2025, a large-scale ICE operation occurred in Chicago.

The players

Chloe East

Associate professor of economics at the University of Colorado Boulder and lead author of the study.

University of Colorado Boulder

One of the institutions that conducted the research on the surge in ICE arrests during President Trump's second term.

University of California, Berkeley

One of the institutions that conducted the research on the surge in ICE arrests during President Trump's second term.

President Donald Trump

The president whose second term saw a 170% increase in ICE arrests, with a drop in the percentage of those arrested having criminal convictions.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for the increased enforcement action and arrests during President Trump's second term.

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What they’re saying

“This really is a much larger and more stark increase we're seeing in the second administration compared to the first.”

— Chloe East, Associate professor of economics at CU Boulder

“We're at about 30% or less of people who are arrested by ice with a criminal conviction in late 2025. Over 70% of people who have been arrested by ICE don't have a criminal conviction.”

— Chloe East, Associate professor of economics at CU Boulder

“These more indiscriminate community arrests that ICE is using have become much more common and are largely driving the increase in ICE activity we've seen in 2025.”

— Chloe East, Associate professor of economics at CU Boulder

What’s next

The study's findings are expected to fuel ongoing debates over immigration enforcement tactics and the administration's priorities.

The takeaway

The surge in ICE arrests during President Trump's second term, coupled with the drop in the percentage of those arrested having criminal convictions, raises concerns about the agency's tactics and whether they align with the administration's stated focus on targeting "the worst of the worst" undocumented immigrants.