Trump’s immigration raids gather up more than just worst offenders
Some 74% have criminal records, down from 90% in raids under Obama
The first major immigration raid under President Trump shows a clear shift in the federal government’s deportation strategy, targeting fewer undocumented immigrants with criminal records than under President Obama.
Of 678 people rounded up in 12 states during raids last week, 74% had been convicted of a crime. That is down from 90% of detained people with criminal records in 2016 under Obama, according to a USA TODAY analysis of more than a dozen federal raids.
For example, in a June 2016 raid in six Midwestern states, 85% of the 324 people arrested had been convicted of crimes. In a raid in those same states last week, 69% had criminal records.
The increase in arrests of those without criminal records does not appear to be consistent with Trump’s promise after his election to use Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) agents to target murderers, rapists and others who pose threats to public safety.
Obama had taken a similar stance by focusing on criminal offenders. After 18 raids in 2016, ICE issued summaries noting that all the undocumented immigrants arrested were “enforcement priorities” who included convicted criminals, gang members, threats to national security, those who recently crossed the border and people with standing deportation orders.
In summaries of each of the five coordinated raids conducted last week, however, ICE explained it was taking a new course of action. “During targeted enforcement operations, ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws,” the summaries said. “Those persons will be evaluated on a case by case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE.”
David Leopold, past president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said exposing all undocumented immigrants encountered during raids for deportation represents a “major shift” in enforcement that takes the focus away from serious criminals and creates a sense of panic throughout the immigrant community.
“This is the blueprint for mass deportations,” he said.
Mark Krikorian, executive director for the Center for Immigration Studies, said the shift is simply common sense. Krikorian, who has advised the Trump administration, said Obama correctly prioritized limited deportation dollars on the most serious criminals.
“What’s different now is that we’ve returned to normal enforcement practices where the ‘ bad hombres’ are still job one, but ordinary lawbreakers are no longer exempt from enforcement,” Krikorian said.
While in office, Obama gradually restricted whom ICE agents could apprehend. In 2014, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson’s memorandum outlined “enforcement priorities” ordering agents to only capture a limited group of undocumented immigrants.
That led to an increasing percentage of people deported under Obama with a criminal record.
David Leopold, a Cleveland immigration attorney, about the shift in focus of raids. “This is the blueprint for mass deportations.”