ICE Arrests in Washington Surge 400% Under Trump, Targeting Families Without Criminal Records

Federal immigration authorities arrested over 2,100 people in Washington state between October 2024 and early March 2025, according to newly released data from the University of California, Berkeley's Deportation Data Project. That's roughly 13 arrests per day—and a staggering increase from the Biden administration's enforcement levels.

The numbers tell a stark story: During a comparable 14-month period under Biden, from mid-January 2023 to early March 2024, ICE arrested about 2,200 people in Washington. Under Trump's second term, that figure was reached in just five months. In the period from October 2024 to early March 2025—spanning both administrations—fewer than 400 arrests occurred under Biden's watch.

Targeting Families, Not Criminals

The data contradicts Trump's repeated claims that his administration is focused on deporting criminals. Between October 1 and March 10, only about a quarter of those arrested had criminal convictions, while roughly 26% faced pending charges. That means nearly half of those detained had no criminal record whatsoever.

"This administration is detaining people indiscriminately—and in too many cases, unlawfully," U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said in a statement Friday. "Moms and dads without any criminal records are being torn away from their kids. This administration isn't going after the worst of the worst—they're rounding up parents and farmworkers who haven't committed a crime."

The human cost is devastating. More than 200 of the nearly 4,000 people arrested in Washington since Trump retook office were born in 2008 or later—meaning ICE is detaining children and teenagers.

Malou Chavez, executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, described the impact on families: "We have heard stories of youth having to take on the role of caretakers for their younger siblings. We have also heard of teenagers having to take on jobs to be able to contribute financially."

Arrest Patterns and Geographic Breakdown

Monthly arrest figures show the intensity of the crackdown:

• October 2024: 484 arrests
• November 2024: 370 arrests
• December 2024: 523 arrests
• January 2025: 429 arrests
• February 2025: 226 arrests

The February drop-off coincides with public backlash following ICE operations in Minnesota that left two U.S. citizens dead at the hands of federal agents. Trump suggested a "softer touch" after the Minnesota unrest, and arrests in Washington fell from over 400 in January to roughly 225 in February.

People of Mexican descent make up the majority of those arrested. Over 100 people each from Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela were also detained.

Legal Challenges and Detention Conditions

The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project has been filing 10-20 court petitions per week challenging detentions—an "unprecedented" caseload, according to Chavez. She noted that conditions at the Tacoma immigrant detention center "continue to be dire."

The data comes from a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit and only includes ICE administrative arrests, not Customs and Border Protection operations. Some arrest records lack state information, meaning the Washington figures could be an undercount. More specific geographic data by city or county is not available.

State Response

Washington's Democratic-controlled Legislature passed several laws this year aimed at protecting immigrants:

• Banning law enforcement from wearing face coverings during operations
• Requiring employers to notify workers of federal workplace inspections
• Restricting the use of automated license plate readers that ICE has used for tracking
• Replacing the term "alien" with "noncitizen" in state law

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not respond to a request for comment.

Despite the fear and uncertainty gripping immigrant communities, Chavez sees resilience: "There is both that heightened fear, feelings of defeat and despair, but also, I think, to a certain degree, what we're also seeing is community members stepping up to support those that are impacted. And there is some hope."

That hope exists in the face of an administration that has made clear its willingness to separate families, detain children, and ignore its own stated priorities—all while claiming to uphold law and order.