Arrests of Non-Criminal Undocumented Immigrants Skyrocket Over 800% Amid Federal Enforcement Push

Sacramento, CA – The Governor Newsom Press Office has highlighted a dramatic surge in the arrests of non-criminal undocumented immigrants, stating that such arrests have "skyrocketed 800%." The tweet from the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom on June 27, 2025, challenged federal authorities to "post the mugshots of the mothers, fathers, children, and farmworkers you’re arresting," questioning the narrative of targeting only the "worst of the worst."

Recent data from multiple sources corroborates a significant increase in the apprehension of individuals without serious criminal records. According to an analysis by The Guardian, there has been an 807% increase in the arrest of immigrants with no criminal record between early January and June 2025. This aligns with internal government documents reviewed by CNN, which indicate that over 75% of people booked into ICE custody from October 2024 through May 2025 had no criminal conviction other than immigration or traffic-related offenses.

This trend appears to contradict the Trump administration's public statements prioritizing the deportation of dangerous criminals. Despite officials frequently asserting a focus on "violent criminals," data from the Cato Institute reveals that as of June 14, 2025, 65% of the 204,297 individuals booked into ICE detention since October 1, 2024, had no criminal convictions. Less than 10% of all detainees were convicted of serious crimes such as murder, assault, robbery, or rape.

The surge in arrests of non-criminal immigrants follows a directive issued in late May 2025 by White House officials, including Stephen Miller and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who reportedly instructed ICE to significantly increase daily arrests, aiming for a target of 3,000 per day. This shift has led to ICE agents increasingly targeting individuals with no prior criminal history, including "collaterals" found during operations and those encountered at workplaces or courthouses.

The intensified enforcement has also led to a record high in the number of people held in immigration detention facilities, exceeding 50,000 individuals as of early June 2025. While the administration maintains its focus on public safety, some Republican members of Congress have joined immigrant advocates in raising concerns that the broad sweep of arrests diverts resources away from genuine threats and strains the detention system.