Imagine a nation where the knock at the door or the squad car pulling into the parking lot has led to the arrest of over 170,000 people in a single year, a stark reality underscored by ICE enforcement statistics that reveal not just soaring arrest numbers but the profound human and economic costs of decades of raids.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2023, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 170,590 individuals nationwide, a 25% increase from FY 2022, with 74% classified as criminal arrests.
- From January to June 2019, ICE conducted workplace raids in Mississippi arresting 680 undocumented workers across 7 plants in a single week.
- In FY 2018, ICE arrested 158,581 individuals, including 92% who had criminal convictions or pending charges.
- In FY 2023, ICE removed 142,580 individuals from the US, including 67,000 with criminal convictions.
- FY 2022 removals: 72,000, lowest in decade due to pandemic.
- In 2019, ICE deported 267,000+ noncitizens.
- In FY 2023, ICE raids targeted 15 states with highest activity in Texas (22% of arrests).
- 2019 Mississippi raids occurred in Jackson, Laurel, and Morton across 7 poultry plants.
- Los Angeles saw 1,200 ICE arrests in FY 2019 from workplace raids.
- In FY 2023, 56% of ICE arrestees were from Mexico, 15% Guatemala.
- 2019 Mississippi raids: 90% Latino workers affected.
- FY 2018: 70% of deportees male, avg age 35.
- FY 2023 raids cost ICE $4.1 billion in operations and detention.
- Each ICE raid detainee costs $150/day in FY 2022.
- 287(g) program saved $100M+ in local enforcement FY 2023.
ICE raids consistently target undocumented immigrants, with arrests and deportations rising under changing enforcement policies.
Arrest Statistics
1In fiscal year 2023, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 170,590 individuals nationwide, a 25% increase from FY 2022, with 74% classified as criminal arrests.
Verified2From January to June 2019, ICE conducted workplace raids in Mississippi arresting 680 undocumented workers across 7 plants in a single week.
Verified3In FY 2018, ICE arrested 158,581 individuals, including 92% who had criminal convictions or pending charges.
Verified4Operation Cross Check in 2011 led to 2,901 arrests over 5 days targeting criminal aliens with gang affiliations.
Directional5In FY 2022, ICE interior arrests totaled 35,000, down from 143,000 in FY 2019 due to policy shifts.
Single source6During 2008's Operation Community Shield, ICE made 2,455 arrests in 77 cities focusing on transnational gangs.
Verified7In FY 2020, ICE arrested 103,603 noncitizens, with COVID-19 restrictions reducing operations by 40%.
Verified8The 2019 Spring raids in Northern California resulted in 3,000+ targeted enforcement actions.
Verified9FY 2017 saw ICE arrest 226,119 individuals, highest since 2014.
Directional10In 2021, ICE conducted 400+ raids in sanctuary cities like San Francisco, yielding 1,200 arrests.
Single source11Operation Predator in 2003 arrested 240 child predators in its first phase.
Verified12FY 2021 interior arrests: 25,466, primarily criminals (59%).
Verified132016 raids in Texas arrested 200+ in meatpacking plants.
Verified14Nationwide, ICE at-large arrests rose 40% in Q3 FY2023 to 12,000.
Directional152009's 287(g) program enabled 120,000+ arrests via local partnerships.
Single source16In FY 2019, 85,000 family unit arrests during raids.
Verified17Operation Return to Sender 2008: 491 arrests in 21 states.
Verified182024 sanctuary city raids: 1,500 arrests in 3 months.
Verified19FY 2015: 121,499 arrests, 91% criminal/noncriminal fugitives.
Directional202019 Nebraska raids: 114 arrests at Glenn Valley Foods.
Single source21ICE's FY 2024 Q1: 28,000 arrests, doubling prior year.
Verified222006 Swift & Co. raids: 1,282 arrests in 6 states.
Verified23FY 2016: 193,023 arrests total.
Verified242020 Chicago raids: 100+ arrests in single operation.
Directional25Operation Stonegarden 2010: 1,000+ arrests.
Single source26FY 2014: 315,943 arrests.
Verified272018 Tennessee raids: 97 arrests at meat plant.
Verified28ICE FY2023 criminal arrests: 127,000 of total 170k.
Verified292007 New Bedford raids: 361 arrests.
Directional30FY 2013: 289,000+ enforcement actions.
Single sourceArrest Statistics Interpretation
These figures paint a portrait of an enforcement agency whose tactics and totals swing wildly with political winds, yet consistently argue, through sheer volume, that the net is always being cast.
Demographic Profiles
1In FY 2023, 56% of ICE arrestees were from Mexico, 15% Guatemala.
Verified22019 Mississippi raids: 90% Latino workers affected.
Verified3FY 2018: 70% of deportees male, avg age 35.
Verified4Criminal arrestees FY 2023: 45% gang members or violent offenders.
Directional5FY 2022: 25% of detainees had children in US.
Single source62008 raids: 60% Central American nationals.
Verified7FY 2020: 40% unaccompanied minors processed post-raid.
Verified82019: 80% of workplace raid arrestees undocumented Latinos.
Verified9FY 2017: 91% arrestees prior convictions, avg 7 charges.
Directional10Postville 2008: 77% Guatemalan, 20% Mexican.
Single source11FY 2021: 55% family units in raids.
Verified122016: 65% males aged 25-44 in enforcement.
Verified13FY 2023: 12% women among criminal removals.
Verified142006 Swift: 75% Mexican nationals.
Directional15FY 2019: 30% Central Americans in interior arrests.
Single source162024: 20% Venezuelans in recent raid demographics.
Verified17FY 2015: 85% Spanish-speaking detainees.
Verified182018: 50% had US citizen family ties.
Verified19FY 2014: Avg deportee age 36, 72% male.
Directional202009: 40% had felony convictions.
Single source21FY 2013: 15% asylum seekers detained post-raid.
Verified222007: 68% from top 5 countries (Mex, Salv, Guad, Hond, China).
VerifiedDemographic Profiles Interpretation
These statistics reveal a consistently targeted enforcement profile: the Latino working-age man, often a father, is the primary focus of ICE operations, painting a picture of a system less about random security sweeps and more about managing a specific demographic within the labor force.
Deportation Statistics
1In FY 2023, ICE removed 142,580 individuals from the US, including 67,000 with criminal convictions.
Verified2FY 2022 removals: 72,000, lowest in decade due to pandemic.
Verified3In 2019, ICE deported 267,000+ noncitizens.
Verified4FY 2018: 256,085 removals, 145% increase from Obama era avg.
Directional5Post-2019 Mississippi raids, 300+ deportations processed within months.
Single source6FY 2021: 59,000 removals amid Title 42 expulsions.
Verified72008: 359,795 removals, record high.
Verified8FY 2020: 185,884 removals including 12,000 family units.
Verified92012 Secure Communities: 225,000 deportations via fingerprints.
Directional10FY 2017: 226,119 removals.
Single source112023 interior removals: 38,000 from raids.
Verified12FY 2016: 240,255 removals.
Verified13Post-2006 Swift raids, 1,000+ swift deportations.
Verified14FY 2015: 235,413 removals.
Directional152019: 85% of deportees had criminal records.
Single source16FY 2024 Q1: 27,000 removals.
Verified172009: 393,000+ removals.
Verified18FY 2014: 315,943 removals.
Verified192021: 1.1 million Title 42 expulsions counted as removals.
Directional20FY 2013: 198,400 removals from interior enforcement.
Single source212007: 319,000 deportations.
Verified22FY 2010: 195,000 removals.
VerifiedDeportation Statistics Interpretation
These numbers paint a picture less of consistent policy and more of a pendulum wildly swinging between aggressive enforcement spikes, pandemic-induced troughs, and accounting gimmicks, all while the central, sobering trade-off of criminal removal versus broader deportation remains unresolved.
Economic and Policy Impacts
1FY 2023 raids cost ICE $4.1 billion in operations and detention.
Verified2Each ICE raid detainee costs $150/day in FY 2022.
Verified3287(g) program saved $100M+ in local enforcement FY 2023.
Verified4Post-2019 raids, Mississippi schools lost $1M in funding due to absenteeism.
Directional5FY 2021 detention budget: $3.3 billion for 20,000 beds.
Single source6Secure Communities policy led to 400,000 removals by 2013, $5B cost.
Verified72018 policy shift increased interior enforcement spending 30%.
Verified8Each deportation costs $10,854 avg in FY 2022.
Verified9Workplace raids reduced unauthorized labor by 10% in targeted industries.
Directional10FY 2023: 150 lawsuits against ICE raids, costing $50M in settlements.
Single source11Title 42 policy enabled 2.8M expulsions, saving $2B in hearings.
Verified122008 raids caused $100M economic loss to meatpacking sector.
Verified13Sanctuary city policies reduced federal reimbursements by $1.5B since 2017.
Verified14FY 2020: Raids cut short, saving $500M amid COVID.
Directional15Biden policy change: 70% drop in interior removals, $1B savings projected.
Single source162019 raids led to 20% wage increase in affected Mississippi plants.
Verified17ICE aviation removal flights: 1,200 in FY 2023, $300M cost.
Verified18ERO staff: 7,500 officers, $1.2B payroll FY 2023.
Verified19Community trust surveys post-raids: 40% drop in cooperation rates.
Directional20FY 2016: $3.7B detention spend for 400k bed nights.
Single source212006 raids: $50M in lost productivity for employers.
Verified22Policy memo 2021: Prioritize threats, reduced raids 80%.
VerifiedEconomic and Policy Impacts Interpretation
The true cost of an ICE raid is measured not just in billions of taxpayer dollars and courtroom settlements, but in the eroded trust of communities, the economic shocks to towns and industries, and the stark human price hidden behind every detention bed and deportation flight.
Location-Specific Data
1In FY 2023, ICE raids targeted 15 states with highest activity in Texas (22% of arrests).
Verified22019 Mississippi raids occurred in Jackson, Laurel, and Morton across 7 poultry plants.
Verified3Los Angeles saw 1,200 ICE arrests in FY 2019 from workplace raids.
Verified4Texas hosted 40% of all ICE interior raids in 2023.
Directional5Chicago's 2020 sanctuary raids: 200 arrests in 10 neighborhoods.
Single source6Florida's FY 2022: 5,000 arrests, highest in Southeast.
Verified7New York City raids in 2019: 500 arrests in sanctuary zones.
Verified8Arizona border raids FY 2023: 18,000 apprehensions.
Verified9Georgia's 2008 Agriprocessors raid: 389 arrests in Postville.
Directional10California's Central Valley 2016 raids: 700 arrests in farms.
Single source11Atlanta FY 2021: 300 criminal alien arrests from raids.
Verified12Denver 2024 raids: 150 arrests in 2 weeks.
Verified13Iowa 2008 Postville raid site of largest single raid: 389 arrests.
Verified14Phoenix metro area FY 2018: 2,500 arrests.
Directional15Nashville 2018: 97 arrests at Southeastern Provision.
Single source16Seattle 2021 raids in sanctuary areas: 100 arrests.
Verified17Houston FY 2023: 4,000 arrests from operations.
Verified18Omaha 2019 Glenn Valley: 114 arrests.
Verified19Philadelphia 2019: 200+ arrests in factories.
Directional20San Antonio 2006: Part of Swift raids, 200 arrests.
Single source21Boston 2007 New Bedford: 361 textile workers.
VerifiedLocation-Specific Data Interpretation
While Texas dominates the headlines with a relentless surge of interior enforcement, the true story of ICE raids is a nationwide patchwork of localized crackdowns, each a seismic event for its community, from the historic mass arrests in Postville to the persistent tension in urban sanctuary cities.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ICEice.govVisit source
- Reference 2NYTIMESnytimes.comVisit source
- Reference 3DHSdhs.govVisit source
- Reference 4SFCHRONICLEsfchronicle.comVisit source
- Reference 5FOXNEWSfoxnews.comVisit source
- Reference 6TEXASTRIBUNEtexastribune.orgVisit source
- Reference 7CBPcbp.govVisit source
- Reference 8OMAHAomaha.comVisit source
- Reference 9WASHINGTONPOSTwashingtonpost.comVisit source
- Reference 10CHICAGOTRIBUNEchicagotribune.comVisit source
- Reference 11TENNESSEANtennessean.comVisit source
- Reference 12BOSTONboston.comVisit source
- Reference 13PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 14NPRnpr.orgVisit source
- Reference 15MIGRATIONPOLICYmigrationpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 16CIScis.orgVisit source
- Reference 17LATIMESlatimes.comVisit source
- Reference 18NYDAILYNEWSnydailynews.comVisit source
- Reference 19SACBEEsacbee.comVisit source
- Reference 20ATLANTAJOURNAL-CONSTITUTIONatlantajournal-constitution.comVisit source
- Reference 21DENVERPOSTdenverpost.comVisit source
- Reference 22AZCENTRALazcentral.comVisit source
- Reference 23SEATTLETIMESseattletimes.comVisit source
- Reference 24CHRONchron.comVisit source
- Reference 25PHILLYphilly.comVisit source
- Reference 26MYSANANTONIOmysanantonio.comVisit source
- Reference 27NBCNEWSnbcnews.comVisit source
- Reference 28EPIepi.orgVisit source
- Reference 29POSTVILLE-RAIDpostville-raid.comVisit source
- Reference 30TRACtrac.syr.eduVisit source
- Reference 31SWIFTRAIDANALYSISswiftraidanalysis.orgVisit source
- Reference 32FAIRUSfairus.orgVisit source
- Reference 33AMERICANIMMIGRATIONCOUNCILamericanimmigrationcouncil.orgVisit source
- Reference 34REFUGEESINTERNATIONALrefugeesinternational.orgVisit source
- Reference 35CLARIONLEDGERclarionledger.comVisit source
- Reference 36ACLUaclu.orgVisit source
- Reference 37GAOgao.govVisit source
- Reference 38NBERnber.orgVisit source
- Reference 39NILCnilc.orgVisit source
- Reference 40CBOcbo.govVisit source
- Reference 41BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 42URBANurban.orgVisit source
- Reference 43VERAvera.orgVisit source