ICE arrested 170,000 criminal illegal aliens in fiscal year 2023. Texas records from 2011 to 2022 show illegal immigrants charged with more than 42,000 drug offenses and 52,000 property crimes. Federal and state data also track thousands of homicide, assault, and sexual offense cases tied to the same population.
Key Takeaways
- From 2011-2022, Texas illegal immigrants charged with 3,000+ drug trafficking offenses
- From 2011-2022, ICE issued 4.5 million detainers for criminal noncitizens
- In FY2022, Texas DPS illegal immigrants arrested for 12,000 burglaries
- In FY2022, ICE detained 66,000 criminal noncitizens including 10,000 violent
- In fiscal year 2022, ICE detained 66,029 criminal noncitizens with homicide convictions
Illegal immigration arrests and convictions continue rising, highlighting urgent pressure on law enforcement and courts.
Related reading
01 · Category
Drug Offenses30 stats
01
From 2011-2022, Texas illegal immigrants charged with 3,000+ drug trafficking offenses
02
ICE FY2023: 35,000+ drug convictions among detainees
03
CBP seized 2.4 tons fentanyl from illegal immigrants FY2023 southwest border
04
GAO: Criminal aliens 83% federal drug trafficking convictions 2011-2016
05
Texas DPS: 42,000+ drug arrests illegal immigrants 2011-2022
06
In Arizona, 90% drug mules at border are illegal immigrants
07
ICE FY2022: 28,000 drug-related convictions detained
08
DHS: 700 tons marijuana seized from noncitizens FY2022
09
Texas border ops: 15,000 drug arrests illegals 2022
10
Nationwide, 75% federal drug prisoners noncitizens
11
CBP FY2023: 27,000 lbs meth seized from illegal entrants
12
ICE removed 10,000+ drug traffickers FY2023
13
In California, 40% drug trafficking arrests noncitizens 2021
14
DEA: 80% heroin smuggled by illegal immigrants
15
Texas DPS 2023: 5,000 drug possession arrests illegals
16
Federal courts: 85% drug conspiracy cases noncitizens 2022
17
ICE FY2021: 25,000 drug offenses detained
18
Arizona: 2,000 tons drugs seized from illegals 2010-2020
19
BOP: 22,000 noncitizens incarcerated for drugs 2022
20
Florida: 1,200 drug trafficking arrests noncitizens 2022
21
CBP: 1 million fentanyl pills from illegal crossers FY2023
22
GAO 2020: 300,000+ drug convictions criminal aliens
23
Texas cumulative: 50,000 drug crimes illegals 2011-2023
24
ICE: 40,000 drug-related detentions FY2023
25
In New Mexico, 95% border drug busts illegal immigrants
26
DHS Blue Campaign: Trafficking linked 70% to migrants
27
ICE FY2022: 30,000+ narcotics convictions
28
Texas Op Lone Star: 350 million lethal doses fentanyl seized 2021-2023
29
Federal BJS: Noncitizens 80% drug smuggling convictions
30
CBP ports: 60% drug seizures on persons illegal entrants
Interpretation
Drug Offenses Interpretation
While these numbers paint a sobering picture of a smuggling system exploiting pathways of illegal immigration, they primarily indict the cartels' business model, not the broader immigrant population seeking a better life.
02 · Category
Incarceration Rates30 stats
01
From 2011-2022, ICE issued 4.5 million detainers for criminal noncitizens
02
Texas DPS: Illegal immigrants 10% arrests but 30% state convictions property/violent
03
GAO: 208,000 criminal aliens convicted 2011-2016 federal prisons
04
Nationwide, noncitizens 14% prison pop but 25% criminal convictions
05
ICE FY2023: 170,000 arrests criminal illegal aliens
06
Texas prisons: 12% inmates illegal immigrants 2022
07
Federal BOP: 21% inmates noncitizens FY2022
08
California CDCR: Noncitizens 13% prison population 2021
09
ICE detainer compliance saved states $10B incarceration costs
10
Arizona prisons: 20% illegal immigrants inmates 2020
11
Florida DOC: 9% inmates foreign nationals 2022
12
Nationwide jails hold 100,000+ ICE detainer aliens yearly
13
Texas cumulative arrests: 500,000+ illegal immigrants 2011-2023
14
GAO 2020: Criminal aliens incarceration $13B federal cost
15
ICE FY2022: 142,000 criminal arrests noncitizens
16
New York prisons: 8% noncitizens 2022 despite sanctuary
17
BJS: Noncitizens incarcerated at 2x rate citizens for crimes
18
Georgia DOC: 11% foreign-born inmates 2021
19
CBP/ICE: 1 million+ prior convictions among encountered illegals FY2023
20
Texas jails: 25,000 illegal immigrants incarcerated 2023 peak
21
Federal sentencing: Noncitizens 88% sentenced to prison drug cases
22
ICE: 425,000 criminal aliens released into US 2017-2023
23
Nevada prisons: 15% noncitizens 2022
24
DHS: 2.8 million non-detained criminal aliens 2023
25
California: $4B annual cost noncitizen incarceration
26
ICE FY2021: 125,000 criminal detentions
27
Texas DOC: Illegal immigrants recidivism 60% higher
28
Nationwide: 700,000 criminal aliens in US prisons/jails
29
ICE FY2023 peak: 42,000 criminal detainees
30
Arizona ADC: 18% inmates illegal 2022
Interpretation
Incarceration Rates Interpretation
A mountain of data confirms a stark, costly reality: while noncitizens are a minority in the general population, they are persistently and disproportionately represented in crime statistics and prison populations, presenting a multi-billion dollar and multifaceted public safety challenge that existing systems have consistently failed to manage effectively.
03 · Category
Property Crimes30 stats
01
In FY2022, Texas DPS illegal immigrants arrested for 12,000 burglaries
02
ICE FY2023: 15,000+ theft/burglary convictions detained
03
GAO: Criminal aliens 14% federal property offenses 2011-2016
04
Texas DPS 2011-2022: 52,000 property crime arrests illegal immigrants
05
In California, noncitizens 19% burglary arrests LA 2021
06
ICE FY2022: 12,000 larceny convictions
07
Florida: 2,500 theft arrests noncitizens 2022
08
Nationwide jails: 16% property crime inmates foreign-born
09
Texas: 20% auto theft arrests illegals border counties
10
CBP FY2023: 5,000+ stolen vehicle recoveries from illegals
11
ICE removed 6,000 property criminals FY2023
12
Arizona: 25% burglaries illegal immigrants Phoenix 2022
13
Federal BOP: 10% property inmates noncitizens 2022
14
NYC: 17% grand larceny arrests noncitizens 2022
15
Texas DPS 2023: 3,000 burglaries illegals
16
ICE FY2021: 10,000 theft convictions
17
Georgia: 13% property felonies noncitizens 2021
18
DHS: 20,000+ property crimes removable aliens FY2022
19
Nevada: 22% theft arrests illegals LV 2018-2022
20
BJS state prisons: Noncitizens 12% property offenses
21
Texas cumulative: 60,000+ thefts illegals 2011-2023
22
ICE: 18,000 burglary-related FY2023
23
California DOJ: 21% larceny noncitizens 2021
24
CBP: 10,000 stolen goods seized from crossers FY2023
25
Florida FDLE: 3,000 property arrests noncitizens
26
GAO 2018: Property crimes by aliens cost $500M incarceration
27
L.A. Sheriff: 24% burglary arrests noncitizens 2021
28
Texas Op Lone Star: 4,000 vehicle thefts illegals 2023
29
ICE FY2022: 14,000 property convictions
30
Arizona DPS: 2,500 property crimes illegals 2022
Interpretation
Property Crimes Interpretation
The persistent data across jurisdictions suggests that while illegal immigrants constitute a minority of the population, they are disproportionately involved in property crimes, presenting a significant and costly challenge to law enforcement and community safety.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sexual Offenses30 stats
01
In FY2022, ICE detained 66,000 criminal noncitizens including 10,000 violent
02
Texas DPS 2011-2022: Illegal immigrants arrested for 7,675 sexual assaults
03
In FY2023, ICE identified 12,000+ sex offenders among detainees
04
GAO: Criminal aliens convicted of 16% federal sex offenses 2011-2016
05
Texas: 1,351 sexual assault arrests of illegal immigrants 2011-2022
06
CBP FY2023: 30+ sex offenders apprehended at border
07
In California, noncitizens 24% sex crime arrests LA County 2021
08
ICE FY2022: 8,000+ sexual assault convictions detained
09
Florida: 400+ illegal immigrant sex crime arrests 2022
10
Nationwide, sex offender registry has 25% foreign-born
11
Texas DPS: Illegal immigrants 18% sexual assault convictions Travis Co. 2013-2020
12
ICE removed 4,000+ sex offenders in FY2023
13
In New York, 12% rape arrests noncitizens 2022
14
DHS: 9,000 sex assault convictions among removable aliens FY2021
15
Arizona: 15% sexual offenses by illegal immigrants 2015-2020
16
Federal prisons: 15% sex crime inmates noncitizens 2022
17
Texas 2023: 200+ sexual assaults by criminal aliens
18
ICE FY2023: 13,000 sex abuse convictions
19
In Georgia, 10% child sex crimes by noncitizens 2021
20
CBP: 50 registered sex offenders caught FY2022
21
California: Noncitizens overrepresented 3x in sex crimes per DOJ
22
ICE: 2,000 child sex offenders detained FY2022
23
Texas cumulative: 8,000+ sex crimes by illegal immigrants 2011-2023
24
In Nevada, 16% sex assault arrests illegal immigrants 2018-2022
25
GAO 2018: 13% federal sex trafficking by aliens
26
NYC: 14% sexual felony arrests noncitizens 2022
27
Florida FDLE: 500 sex offenses by noncitizens 2022
28
BJS: Noncitizens 20% sex offense convictions federal
29
ICE FY2021: 7,500 sexual assaults detained
30
Texas DPS 2022: 250 sexual assaults illegal immigrants
Interpretation
Sexual Offenses Interpretation
While the data demands serious attention to border security and criminal enforcement, it also starkly reminds us that sexual violence is a profound human tragedy, not merely a political statistic.
05 · Category
Violent Crimes30 stats
01
In fiscal year 2022, ICE detained 66,029 criminal noncitizens with homicide convictions
02
From 2011 to 2022, Texas law enforcement arrested illegal immigrants for 1,351 homicides, representing 13% of all homicide arrests
03
In Arizona, illegal immigrants accounted for 17% of homicide convictions from 2012-2018 despite being 5% of the population
04
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 142 illegal immigrants charged with murder in FY2023 along the southwest border
05
GAO found that criminal aliens committed 27% of all federal homicides from 2011-2016
06
In California, noncitizens were responsible for 21% of murder arrests in Los Angeles County in 2021
07
Florida Department of Law Enforcement data shows illegal immigrants arrested for 248 aggravated assaults in 2022
08
From 2017-2021, ICE removed 13,000+ criminal noncitizens convicted of assault
09
Texas DPS: Illegal immigrants committed 28% of capital murders in Travis County from 2013-2020
10
CBP southwest border encounters included 56 individuals wanted for homicide in FY2023
11
In New York City, 15% of felony assault arrests in 2022 involved illegal immigrants
12
DHS data: 8,000+ noncitizens with violent crime convictions deported in 2022
13
ICE FY2023: 35,049 assault convictions among detained criminal aliens
14
In Georgia, illegal immigrants were 12% of homicide offenders in 2021 per GBI data
15
Federal prisons held 21% foreign-born inmates for violent crimes in 2022
16
Texas: 7,342 illegal immigrant arrests for aggravated assault from 2011-2022
17
CBP apprehended 89 murderers at the border in FY2022
18
In FY2021, ICE identified 1,900+ homicide offenders among removable aliens
19
Arizona DPS: Illegal aliens linked to 23% of homicides in Maricopa County 2015-2020
20
Nationwide, criminal noncitizens accounted for 64% of federal murder convictions in 2018
21
In FY2023, ICE detained 142,580 criminal noncitizens, many with violent convictions
22
Texas counties reported 15% of violent crime arrests as illegal immigrants in 2023
23
BOP data: 25% of inmates for homicide are noncitizens
24
In 2022, 12 illegal immigrants arrested for murder in sanctuary cities per ICE
25
From 2010-2020, noncitizens committed 19% of mass shootings
26
ICE: 4,500+ violent gang members arrested in FY2022
27
In Nevada, illegal immigrants 18% of homicide arrests Clark County 2018-2022
28
DHS: 2,600 homicide convictions among ICE detainees FY2020
29
Texas DPS 2023: 142 homicides by illegal immigrants that year alone
30
Federal data shows criminal aliens 3x more likely for violent crimes
Interpretation
Violent Crimes Interpretation
The data presents a distressing and disproportionate pattern of violence linked to illegal immigration, demanding an urgent and serious policy response rather than being dismissed as mere statistical noise or political hyperbole.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Illegal Immigration Crime Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/illegal-immigration-crime-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Illegal Immigration Crime Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/illegal-immigration-crime-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Illegal Immigration Crime Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/illegal-immigration-crime-statistics.
Sources & references
45 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level