ICE agents in Midwest jurisdiction recently arresting more who have no prior criminal convictions, charges
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — President Donald Trump campaigned with a promise to deport large numbers of criminal offenders, and while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained over 38,000 migrants with criminal records, updated data indicates a recent change in focus, with more arrests of individuals who have not been accused of any crimes.

During the initial four months of Trump’s second term, the Deportation Data Project reveals that ICE detained 4,775 individuals in the Chicago Area of Responsibility, which encompasses Illinois and five surrounding states.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Among those detained, 47% had previous criminal convictions, 35% were facing pending criminal charges, and just 18% of immigrant arrestees had neither previous charges nor convictions.

On May 21, White House officials imposed a new arrest quota nationwide, demanding that ICE conduct at least 3,000 arrests a day.

SEE MORE: Trump vowed to deport ‘worst of the worst’ — but ICE is also arresting non-criminals: data

From that point through June 11, ICE agents in the Midwest jurisdiction began arresting more people who have no prior criminal convictions or charges, the I-Team found.

During that time period, 1,147 people were arrested in the Chicago Area of Responsibility: 32% had prior criminal convictions, 32% also had pending criminal charges, and 36% had no prior criminal charges or convictions.

Since President Trump’s second term inauguration day, data show more than half, or 51%, of the people arrested by ICE are still in active court proceedings to determine whether they can be removed, while 47% of the cases have ended with people removed from the U.S., either deported or voluntarily.

And in that time, a Colombian man arrested in the Chicago Area of Responsibility reportedly died while in ICE custody, the data show.

Brandon Lee and his colleagues at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights say this is exactly what they have warned migrant communities about for months.

“I don’t think we were ever under the impression that he would run a targeted operation,” Lee told the I-Team. “It is a situation that shows a degree to which Trump is trying to cause that fear and create these harsh environments for people in Chicago and across the country.”

ABC News contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Security scare near Trump's Air Force One at Palm Beach airport

Security Incident Unfolds Near Air Force One at Palm Beach Airport During Trump’s Visit

WASHINGTON — A security incident unfolded at Palm Beach International Airport on…
Nestlé says 413,793 KitKat candy bars stolen en route from Italy to Poland

Massive Heist: Over 400,000 KitKat Bars Vanish During Transport from Italy to Poland

GENEVA — Nestlé, the Swiss multinational known for its KitKat chocolates, reported…
Five Guys CEO paid $1.5M staff bonus so he wouldn't get shot like Brian Thompson

Five Guys CEO Awards $1.5M in Staff Bonuses to Enhance Workplace Safety Following Brian Thompson Incident

In a surprising move, the CEO of the well-known fast-food chain Five…
Tensions flare outside Trump National Golf Club in Palos Verdes

Escalating Tensions: Unrest Erupts at Trump National Golf Club in Palos Verdes

On Saturday morning, a “No Kings” protest outside the Trump National Golf…
North Korea tests solid-fuel missile engine as Kim boosts threat to US mainland

North Korea Escalates Tensions: Solid-Fuel Missile Engine Test Signals Enhanced Threat to US Mainland

In a demonstration of its ongoing military advancements, North Korea conducted a…
American-born Israeli soldier killed in combat in Lebanon

American-Born Israeli Soldier Tragically Falls in Lebanon Combat Operations

An Israeli soldier, originally from the United States, has been killed in…
President Trump posts letter from Billy Graham's son about fate of his immortal soul

Franklin Graham’s Letter to Trump Sparks Debate on Immortal Soul and Spiritual Legacy

WASHINGTON — In a letter shared on Truth Social this Palm Sunday,…
Tom Homan reveals when TSA will start getting paid again following Trump's executive order

Breaking News: TSA Pay Resumption Timeline Unveiled After Trump’s Executive Order

WASHINGTON — Relief may be on the horizon for TSA airport screeners,…
DHS shutdown: TSA agents will soon be paid but it may not mean immediate relief at airport security lines

Impending TSA Pay: Why Airport Security Delays Might Persist Despite DHS Shutdown Resolution

Amid the bustling spring break travel season, airline passengers continued to endure…
Crete house fire: 71-year-old Walter Palmer, 16-year-old Kassidy James, 11-year-old Mary James, 7-year-old Ivory James found dead

Tragic House Fire in Crete Claims Four Lives, Including Three Children

A family in Crete, Illinois, is grappling with unimaginable loss after a…
Mom of Brooklyn boy caught in crossfire aims to raise money to flee to safety

Brooklyn Mother Seeks Funds to Relocate After Son is Injured in Crossfire

A heartbroken mother is pleading for assistance after her 9-year-old son became…
Houston airport travelers reveal who they blame for TSA lines

Travelers Point Fingers: Who’s Really to Blame for Houston Airport’s TSA Delays?

Travelers expressed frustration with both political parties as they faced the daunting…