Police Killings Fell During Trump's Deportation Push, Contradicting Warnings

A progressive police reform group reports a decline in police-involved killings, despite predictions of increased violence in sanctuary cities.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 4:39pm

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One year after critics warned that President Trump's mass deportation push would spark bloodshed in America's largest sanctuary cities, new data from a leading progressive police-reform group shows police-involved killings actually declined - the first drop in five years. Lawmakers and activists had predicted that Trump's surge into largely sanctuary-city communities would lead to more violence against innocent residents, but the data from Mapping Police Violence found the opposite occurred.

Why it matters

This data contradicts the narrative that Trump's deportation efforts would lead to increased violence and unrest in sanctuary cities. It raises questions about the accuracy of the predictions made by lawmakers and activists, and whether the fears of heightened police-involved killings were overblown.

The details

According to the Mapping Police Violence report, there were 1,314 police-involved killings in 2025, a decline from the 1,382 killings in 2024 and 1,362 killings in 2023. This marks the first drop in police killings in five years, despite warnings that Trump's deportation push would spark more violence. Columnists and officials had predicted a crisis of violence, but the data shows police killings actually decreased during this period.

  • In 2024, there were 1,382 police-involved killings, reportedly a record high.
  • In 2023, there were 1,362 people who died at the hands of police.

The players

Mapping Police Violence

A progressive advocacy project and subsidiary of the Harlem-based Campaign Zero police reform group that tracks data on police-involved killings.

David Mastio

A columnist for the Kansas City Star who questioned the predictions of increased violence.

Alex Padilla

A Democratic senator from California who voiced concerns over the repercussions of violence during the immigration enforcement surge in Los Angeles.

Keith Ellison

The Minnesota Attorney General who stated that people were being "racially profiled, harassed, terrorized, and assaulted" during the Minneapolis surge.

Kaohly Her

The Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota who expressed concerns that violence would increase against innocent people as DHS focused on the metro region.

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What they’re saying

“If they are so violent, why did police kill 68 fewer people in 2025 than 2024? Certainly, that's not what I expected to happen.”

— David Mastio, Columnist

“Our residents are scared, and as local officials, we have a responsibility to act. Today we're standing side by side with Minneapolis and the attorney general to fight back.”

— Kaohly Her, Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.