Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plays a crucial role in enforcing immigration laws in the United States. One of the key functions of ICE is to detain individuals who are in the country illegally or who have committed crimes. According to ICE data, a significant percentage of individuals detained by the agency have a criminal record in the US.
Between October 2017 and March 2024, approximately 589,870 people, accounting for 29.3% of all detention book-ins, had a criminal record. In 2023, 41.5% of criminal detainees had been convicted of misdemeanors, 35.6% of felonies, and 18.7% of aggravated felonies. The remaining crimes fell under other categories or were unknown.
ICE has the authority to detain individuals under two main categories: discretionary and mandatory. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) grants ICE discretionary authority to detain people awaiting a decision on their removal from the US. In these cases, ICE can choose to release individuals on a minimum $1,500 bond or under supervision if they are not considered a flight or security risk. Alternatively, ICE may assign detainees to one of its Alternatives to Detention programs to ensure they appear at their hearings.
On the other hand, ICE is mandated to detain unauthorized immigrants who have committed serious crimes, such as those involving terrorism or moral turpitude, once they are released from criminal custody. These individuals are generally not eligible for bond release but can request a review by an immigration judge to determine if they truly fall into mandatory detention categories.
In terms of deportations, between October 2013 and March 2024, ICE returned approximately 2,000,730 people to their country of citizenship. Removals and returns were highest in 2014, at 315,940, and lowest in 2021, at 59,010. On average, ICE removed about 200,073 people per year between fiscal years 2014 and 2023. In the current fiscal year (2024), ICE has already removed or returned 132,870 immigrants.
The majority of individuals removed or returned by ICE in the past decade were Mexican citizens, accounting for 53.0% of all removals and returns. This was followed by Guatemalans at 17.0% and Hondurans at 12.0%.
Overall, ICE plays a critical role in enforcing immigration laws and ensuring the safety and security of the United States. By detaining individuals with criminal records and deporting those who are in the country illegally, ICE works to uphold the laws of the land and protect the interests of the nation.