The number of undocumented immigrants taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has seen a significant surge during the Trump administration, according to officials. This increase involves a range of individuals, including those convicted of serious crimes like murder and rape, although the statistics can differ by state.
Since Trump’s inauguration in January, arrests in Maryland have surged by 290%, and Virginia has reported an astonishing 470% increase. South Carolina has also seen arrests more than triple in that time. Meanwhile, in Michigan, arrests have risen by 145%. In Colorado and Wyoming, the figures are nearly five times higher than during the same period under former President Biden.
Additionally, eight western states—including Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and California—have nearly tripled their monthly arrests of undocumented immigrants since January. In Chicago, ICE has arrested three times as many illegal immigrants with criminal records in the first 150 days of the Trump administration compared to Biden’s last 150 days.
In the San Diego area alone, immigrant arrests have risen by 400% compared to the previous year. This uptick comes even as cities like Los Angeles increasingly demand that ICE focus on apprehending individuals associated with criminal activities. The rise in assaults against ICE personnel has also been noteworthy, reportedly jumping by 830% since 2024.
One official commented on the intensified rhetoric surrounding ICE operations, suggesting that the increase in attacks on agents is troubling and reflects a significant shift in how these law enforcement missions are viewed. It’s a complex situation, but the data point clearly to a rise in both arrests and confrontations with ICE amidst a heated political climate.
