The new data depicts a strict portrait of current US Immigration Customs (ICE) practices. The agency detains the majority of individuals with no serious criminal history, but captures only a few undocumented immigrants convicted of violent crimes.
1. CatoInstitute: 65% of ice detainees were not criminally convicted
From October 1, 2024 to June 14, 2025, internal ice data shared with the Cato Institute:
ICE processed 204,297 books, of which 133,687 (65%) had no criminal convictions. More than 93% of detainees were not convicted of violent crimes, and about 90% lacked a conviction for violent or property crimes. Of those convicted, most convictions were related to immigration violations, traffic issues, or non-violent side crimes.
The increase in non-criminal internal detention coincides with changes in enforcement policies seeking to halt more interior affairs, following instructions from the White House. In many cases, agency staff describes it as “amount beyond quality,” and risky individuals may not be approved.
2. NBC News: Only 6% of known immigrant murderers arrested
Ice touts efforts to target “worst and worst,” but internal agency figures reported to NBC News revealed another reality.
Between October 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025, ICE booked 185,042 Undocu Men ed Migrants. This includes 752 individuals convicted of murder and 1,693 convicted of sexual assault. However, Ice previously told Congress in September that more than 13,099 undocumented murderers and 15,811 sexual assault offenders are known to be in the United States, but not in custody. result? Only 6% of known, undocumented murderers and 11% of sexual assault offenders have been arrested.
Congressional Republicans, including Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R – Tx), are looking for a better target for violent offenders, saying cutting down law-abiding undocumented immigrants would divert law enforcement from the real threat.
3. Contradictions between policy and practice
These revelations highlight the growing cutting.
Despite official guidance highlighting public safety threats, ICE appears to focus on summarizing individuals who lack a conviction. Meanwhile, only a small percentage of high-risk offenders (e.g., convicted murderers and rapists) are in custody, raising questions about the effectiveness and priorities of conducting their home affairs.
A senior DHS official told NBC News that pursuing and arresting serious offenders is more resource intensive than targeting unconvicted people. The official claims are deporting people without legal status rather than prioritizing “the worst and worst.”
4. Calling for policy impacts for reform
Transparency: The Cato Institute urges Congress to require more detailed reporting from the ICE, ensuring internal enforcement is consistent with public safety. Prioritization: As lawmakers, including bipartisan voices, advocate for policy adjustments, ICE allocates their resources to first arrest documented violent offenders. Operational Balance: Enforcement officers warn that the focus will be on arrest quota meetings and that dangerous offenders will focus on targeting non-threatening individuals.
Despite the rhetorical promise to “get rid of the worst and worst,” the data shows that ice is currently removing far more individuals without being convicted than serious offenders. This highlights raising concerns about agency discretion, enforcement priorities, and broader immigration policy strategies.
Source: Cato Institute (June 20, 2025), NBC News (June 25, 2025).
