Immigrants Without A Criminal Record Increasingly Targeted

The immigration crackdown is happening and increasing by the day, shocking communities everywhere including Texas

In recent months, the number of detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increased significantly in the United States. And Texas accounts for nearly 25 percent in ICE Detention: about 17,000 individuals concentrated in facilities around El Paso, San Antonio, and Houston.

A recent report from TRAC, a nonpartisan data research project, shows the vast majority (73.6 percent) of individuals currently in ICE detention have no criminal convictions. That number runs counter to the claims of the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security. In October they released their own statistics that claimed 70 percent of ICE arrests were undocumented immigrants “charged with or convicted of a crime in the U.S.”

The immigration crackdown is happening and increasing by the day. The increase in detentions became clear during and immediately after the government shutdown. From September 21 to November 16, the number of detainees in custody grew by 5,373, and 97 percent of this increase involved civil-only detainees.

Since January 2025 the number of interior non-criminal ICE arrests has risen more than 2,000 percent, reaching approximately 21,200 by the end of November. The increase in these arrests actually started under the Biden administration, when detentions grew from about 14,000 in 2021 to around 40,000 by January 2025. However, under Biden, the majority of non-criminal detentions consisted of individuals who had recently crossed the border.

The arrests of individuals suspected of being undocumented without a criminal record can be attributed to several factors, but chief of those the expanded funding for immigration enforcement. Under the a funding bill the White House referred to as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” over $170 billion will be spent over four years on immigration measures. This combination of financial and personnel resources, along with the new enforcement approach, has resulted in a growing number of arrests.

The arrests have also shocked communities throughout the country, including Texas. Just days into the new Trump administration a teenager, who worked as a dishwasher, from Venezuela was arrested at his home in Cedar Park. ICE claimed there was evidence he was a member of a gang, but his family claims they have no proof.

In November, ICE arrested a 62-year-old father, Maher Tarabishi, in Dallas. Tarabishi, who is originally from Jordan, has lived in the United States for 17 years and was the primary caregiver for his seriously ill son. Though his asylum claim was denied, Tarabishi was allowed to remain in the country to care for the sick child. His family insists he has no criminal convictions, but ICE arrested him after a routine check-in and claimed he was a member of a terrorist organization.

Since January 2025, Border Patrol apprehensions have declined from about 29,000 per month to fewer than 5,000 per month. With fewer crossings occurring at the border, enforcement efforts have been redirected toward operations within the country. And that means targeting people with civil immigration violations (like overstaying a visa).

As these interior detentions have increased, so have the pressures on existing facilities.

In 2025, the number of deaths in ICE custody reached its highest level since 2004, with at least 20 fatalities. Many of these deaths were attributed to overcrowding and inadequate medical care. Just a few days ago, ICE sent out a press release saying a man originally from Guatemala died in El Paso.

DHS has requested an additional $4.4 billion for ICE Custody Operations, with a stated goal of increasing detention beds by 50,000. Whether Congress approves this funding and whether courts uphold the expanded enforcement priorities will largely determine if the current detention pace can be sustained.