ICE’s “Collateral” Arrests Reveal Widespread Sweeps Targeting Noncriminal Immigrants

Between August and early March, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made approximately 64,000 “collateral” arrests—detentions of individuals without prior warrants, often based solely on their presence near someone wanted by ICE or their perceived immigration status. This figure represents a staggering 25 percent of the agency’s total 253,000 arrests during that period, according to data obtained by the Deportation Data Project and analyzed by Stateline.

Unlike traditional ICE arrests, which require warrants tied to removal orders or evidence of crimes, collateral arrests occur during aggressive street sweeps and raids. Agents stop and question people based on appearance or proximity, then detain those they suspect might be deportable and likely to flee if released. This tactic has been challenged in court as a blatant circumvention of constitutional protections.

The data reveal a disturbing pattern: about 70 percent of those arrested collaterally had no record of violent crimes—only immigration-related violations. In fact, less than 2 percent of collateral arrestees were convicted of violent offenses, compared to one-third the rate among warrant-based arrests. Overall, the share of ICE arrests involving serious crimes has plummeted, while arrests for immigration violations alone have surged.

Public backlash has begun to curb these large-scale sweeps. After high-profile raids in cities like Minneapolis and Chicago sparked outrage, ICE announced a new policy in January requiring real-time warrants for arrests made during sweeps—though this policy faces ongoing legal challenges. Arrests have declined since December, suggesting a pause in these broad operations.

Multiple lawsuits underscore the human cost of collateral arrests. In Washington, D.C., a class-action suit alleges ICE agents indiscriminately arrested Latino residents without warrants or probable cause. One plaintiff, José Escobar Molina, was handcuffed and detained despite holding temporary protected status for 25 years. Similar suits in Idaho, North Carolina, and Illinois highlight instances where citizens and legal residents were wrongfully arrested, sometimes based solely on their skin color.

These tactics reflect the Trump administration’s push for mass deportations, prioritizing arrest quotas over careful investigations. The result is a system that sweeps up immigrants indiscriminately, undermining civil rights and sowing fear in immigrant communities.

As ICE continues to face legal scrutiny and public condemnation, the question remains: will these unconstitutional “collateral” arrests end, or will the agency double down on tactics that trample on justice and due process? For now, the data lay bare a troubling reality—ICE’s street sweeps are less about criminal enforcement and more about casting a wide net that drags in thousands of innocent people.