Nearly Half of ICE Arrests in Massachusetts Involve Non-Criminals

Nearly half of the immigrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Massachusetts had no prior criminal record, according to official data obtained by independent organizations and reviewed by local media.

Between January 20, 2025, and March 10, 2026, ICE carried out 7,031 arrests across the state. Of those, 46% involved individuals with no previous criminal convictions. Another 19% had prior convictions, while 35% were facing pending criminal charges.

The data, compiled by the Deportation Data Project using public and internal ICE records, indicates that a significant portion of arrests were based solely on immigration violations, such as being in the country without legal authorization.

Arrests in Massachusetts rose sharply during this period, reaching levels nearly five times higher than those recorded during the final phase of the Joe Biden administration. The increase aligns with stricter immigration enforcement policies under Donald Trump, who has emphasized deporting individuals with criminal backgrounds.

However, critics including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey have questioned the narrative that enforcement efforts are focused only on the “worst offenders.” Healey has called for greater transparency regarding detention data in the state.

Federal officials from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security maintain that operations prioritize individuals with serious criminal histories. At the same time, they acknowledge that expanded enforcement efforts have also led to the detention of individuals without convictions, largely due to the high number of undocumented immigrants in the country.

Similar patterns have been observed nationwide, where the share of detainees without criminal records has increased as enforcement operations have intensified, particularly in areas with large immigrant populations and so-called “sanctuary” policies.

The issue remains highly debated in the United States, raising ongoing questions about public safety, immigration enforcement priorities, and the broader humanitarian impact of large-scale detention efforts