ICE represents its enforcement surge as targeting dangerous criminals, but data tells a different story. Why non-criminals will make up the bulk of ICE arrests, detentions, and deportations.
Immigration attorneys have stated to me that ICE was stacking & not deporting criminals leading up to the election w/the intention of having great optics of Trump deporting them and not Biden. It’s another con.
I appreciate you harnessing data to debunk the long-held notion that ICE targets criminals. I grew up in an immigrant community. I found undocumented immigrants to be the most law-abiding because they knew that even a minor infraction could upend their lives. Many lived with an enduring fear that motivated them to keep a wide berth between them and law enforcement.
What struck me most about your research was the volatility of deportations and detentions of undocumented immigrants without criminal records, which contextualizes the White House press secretary's statement last week that "all undocumented immigrants are criminals." It's the only way they'll get their numbers, to your point. But conflating those who only have immigration violations on their record, which, correct me if I'm wrong, is either a misdemeanor or a civil violation (minor infractions), with immigrants who have serious crimes on their record is morally bankrupt.
"If the Trump administration wants to increase deportations, they’ll have to focus on non-criminals, because there simply aren’t enough people with convictions left to target at the scale they need to in order to produce big deportation numbers."
I always say if you want to hang around with a group of people you can trust not to commit any crimes, hang around with undocumented persons!
Thank you for the insightful article on the complexities of Trump's immigration enforcement policies. I particularly appreciated your analysis of how executive orders shape immigration practices, reflecting the evolving nature of governance. To complement your exploration, it’s worth noting that beyond just enforcement changes, these policies can also lead to significant legal challenges. For instance, the concept of “writ of mandamus” can play a vital role in immigration cases, particularly when individuals seek to compel government actions that have been unlawfully delayed. A few documented cases illustrate how migrants have successfully used this legal tool to push for responses to their applications and appeals, shedding light on the intersection of immigration enforcement with judicial review. Given the ongoing debates about the effectiveness of these enforcement strategies, how do you see the potential use of a writ of mandamus influencing the future of immigration policy and individual rights in the current political climate? https://criminalimmigrationlaw.com/2025/06/19/does-criminal-record-affect-immigration/
Immigration attorneys have stated to me that ICE was stacking & not deporting criminals leading up to the election w/the intention of having great optics of Trump deporting them and not Biden. It’s another con.
That doesn't surprise me a bit.
I appreciate you harnessing data to debunk the long-held notion that ICE targets criminals. I grew up in an immigrant community. I found undocumented immigrants to be the most law-abiding because they knew that even a minor infraction could upend their lives. Many lived with an enduring fear that motivated them to keep a wide berth between them and law enforcement.
What struck me most about your research was the volatility of deportations and detentions of undocumented immigrants without criminal records, which contextualizes the White House press secretary's statement last week that "all undocumented immigrants are criminals." It's the only way they'll get their numbers, to your point. But conflating those who only have immigration violations on their record, which, correct me if I'm wrong, is either a misdemeanor or a civil violation (minor infractions), with immigrants who have serious crimes on their record is morally bankrupt.
Excellent work as always, Austin. Thank you.
"If the Trump administration wants to increase deportations, they’ll have to focus on non-criminals, because there simply aren’t enough people with convictions left to target at the scale they need to in order to produce big deportation numbers."
I always say if you want to hang around with a group of people you can trust not to commit any crimes, hang around with undocumented persons!
Thank you for the insightful article on the complexities of Trump's immigration enforcement policies. I particularly appreciated your analysis of how executive orders shape immigration practices, reflecting the evolving nature of governance. To complement your exploration, it’s worth noting that beyond just enforcement changes, these policies can also lead to significant legal challenges. For instance, the concept of “writ of mandamus” can play a vital role in immigration cases, particularly when individuals seek to compel government actions that have been unlawfully delayed. A few documented cases illustrate how migrants have successfully used this legal tool to push for responses to their applications and appeals, shedding light on the intersection of immigration enforcement with judicial review. Given the ongoing debates about the effectiveness of these enforcement strategies, how do you see the potential use of a writ of mandamus influencing the future of immigration policy and individual rights in the current political climate? https://criminalimmigrationlaw.com/2025/06/19/does-criminal-record-affect-immigration/