Report finds Houston leads nation in ICE community, jail arrests

According to newly released government data analyzed by the New York Times, Houston has taken the lead in immigration arrests this year, outpacing all the other U.S. cities. Houston leads all U.S. cities in both community arrests and jail-based detentions conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Between January 20 and October 15, ICE documented approximately 5,200 arrests categorized as “at large” in the Houston region. This indicates that individuals were apprehended within the community rather than being transferred from local jails, as reported by the Deportation Data Project and published by the Times.

In the same timeframe, Houston reported approximately 9,300 ICE detainments in jails and prisons, positioning it as the leading city nationwide in both categories.

The data highlights the influence of President Donald Trump’s immigration strategy for a potential second term. During his campaign, Trump committed to deporting millions of individuals, and his administration has swiftly broadened enforcement measures to achieve that objective.

The measures include restricting access to asylum at the border, terminating parole programs that permitted legal entry for migrants during the Biden administration, reinstating prisons for immigration detainees, and mandating that local governments provide ICE agents with access to jails and databases.

An analysis by The New York Times revealed a notable change in the targets of ICE operations. During the Biden administration, the majority of deportations targeted recent arrivals apprehended at the border. During Trump's current term, ICE targeted several individuals who entered the U.S. legally in recent years through programs that have now been abolished.

Traditionally, ICE has depended significantly on “custodial arrests,” taking into custody individuals who are already incarcerated, frequently those with prior criminal records. Although those arrests represent approximately half of ICE detainments, the agency has progressively targeted individuals believed to be without legal status, irrespective of their criminal background.

Illegal immigration is classified as a civil offense rather than a criminal one, with detention historically serving as a measure to mitigate the risk of individuals fleeing. Historically, the majority of detainees found themselves released as they awaited their immigration court hearings.

Current policy mandates that ICE detain individuals for extended durations. Immigration judges have received directives indicating that a significant number of detainees do not qualify for bail, while recent legislation has tightened the criteria for release even further.

Migrants, once detained, frequently find themselves moved to facilities located far from their arrest sites, which complicates their ability to access legal representation and family support.

The analysis reveals that ICE executed an average of 23,000 removals each month throughout the nine months examined. The national detainee population surged to over 68,000 individuals in December, marking a record high.

According to the analysis, over 3,000 adults who arrived in the U.S. before the age of 16—who may qualify for protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program—have faced deportation, in addition to more than 4,000 children.

Since Trump took office, at least 32 individuals have lost their lives in ICE custody, surpassing the total recorded during Biden’s entire administration, as per the data.