Ice Continues Immigrants Without Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
U.S. immigration enforcement · October 2026 data and public records
ICE Continues to Arrest Immigrants Without Criminal Records: 2026 Data, Cases & Public Records Search
ICE continues to arrest immigrants without criminal records, according to federal enforcement data analyzed by independent researchers and national news organizations. In July 2026, more than half of people arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had neither a recorded criminal conviction nor a pending criminal charge, according to CBS News’ analysis of government data.
That finding does not mean everyone arrested was legally entitled to remain in the United States. ICE conducts civil immigration enforcement, which can include people facing immigration violations even when they have no criminal conviction. Understanding this distinction is essential when interpreting ICE arrest statistics.
This guide examines the latest verified figures, explains the legal difference between immigration detention and criminal prosecution, and shows how to find someone in ICE custody, check an immigration court case, request government records, and identify available legal-assistance resources.
CriminalCourtRecord.org is an independent informational publication, not part of ICE, DHS, the Department of Justice or any court. This article does not provide legal representation or identify private individuals as immigration enforcement targets.
ICE Arrests of Immigrants Without Criminal Records: What the 2026 Data Shows
Federal immigration enforcement expanded during summer 2026. Available data shows both a rise in the number of arrests and a substantial share of people arrested without recorded criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.
These figures measure different things: arrests during a month, people arrested without either pending charges or convictions, and a snapshot of people held in detention without convictions. They should not be treated as interchangeable percentages or added together.
Verified ICE Arrest and Detention Figures
| Period | Finding | Source and interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 43,138 people booked into ICE detention, including arrests originating with ICE and CBP. | TRAC immigration data. Detention book-ins are not necessarily the same measure as ICE administrative arrests. |
| July 2026 | More than 800 people per day on average were arrested without recorded criminal charges or convictions. | CBS News, August 27, 2026. Such arrests made up more than half of the reported July total. |
| July 2026 | 27% of interior ICE arrests leading to detention book-ins involved people with criminal convictions. | Deportation Data Project, September 8, 2026. This is a specific arrest cohort and a conviction measure, not a count of everyone detained. |
| July 11, 2026 | 46,436 of 65,765 people in ICE detention had no recorded criminal conviction. | TRAC. This equals 70.6%; people with pending charges may be included in the no-conviction category. |
| August 2026 | DHS reported 50,925 ICE arrests, following 50,208 reported arrests in July. | Reuters, September 14–15, 2026, with total arrest figures also announced by DHS. |
What Changed During Summer 2026?
The Deportation Data Project’s September 2026 analysis identified multiple contributors to the rise in arrests, including more transfers involving local law enforcement, growing use of 287(g) cooperation agreements, and increased ICE at-large arrests.
Reuters reported in September 2026 that arrest numbers increased substantially while deportations did not rise at the same pace. Its reporting identified pending immigration claims, limited removal-flight capacity and restrictions imposed by receiving countries as contributing factors.
The available evidence supports a change in enforcement composition. It does not establish that every ICE arrest was unlawful or that everyone without a conviction had lawful immigration status.
What Does “Immigrants Without Criminal Records” Actually Mean?
The phrase without criminal records is common in news coverage, but government datasets use more specific classifications.
| Category | What it means | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal conviction | ICE records reflect a criminal conviction. | It does not necessarily mean the offense was violent, recent or serious. |
| Pending criminal charge | A criminal accusation is pending without a final conviction. | A pending charge is not proof of guilt. |
| No recorded conviction | ICE has no known criminal conviction listed for the person. | The person may still have pending charges, an immigration violation or an incomplete record. |
| No conviction or pending charge | Neither of those criminal-history categories is recorded in the applicable ICE data. | This does not determine the person’s immigration status or whether ICE has a civil enforcement basis. |
| Civil immigration violation | An alleged violation addressed through immigration enforcement, such as certain visa overstays or removability grounds. | A civil violation is not automatically a criminal conviction. |
| Removal order | An immigration authority has ordered the person’s removal under applicable law. | A removal order does not itself establish a criminal conviction. |
Does an Immigration Violation Count as a Crime?
It depends on the conduct and the law involved. Many immigration violations, including an ordinary visa overstay, are addressed under civil immigration law. Other conduct, including specified improper-entry or unlawful-reentry offenses, can be criminally prosecuted.
Immigration detention is generally administrative custody connected to immigration proceedings or removal, not a sentence for a criminal conviction. However, the government can have civil detention authority even when the person lacks a criminal record.
Why Does ICE Arrest Immigrants Who Have No Criminal Convictions?
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division performs civil immigration enforcement under federal law. Its authority is not limited to people convicted of crimes.
The official ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics page distinguishes individuals with criminal convictions, individuals with pending charges, and individuals without either category who are being pursued under immigration law.
Possible Reasons for Civil Immigration Enforcement
- Visa overstay: The person remained after the authorized period of admission, subject to their actual status and any applicable protections.
- Final removal order: An immigration authority previously ordered removal, with enforcement depending on the order and applicable law.
- Removability proceedings: The government alleges a ground of removability that does not require a prior criminal conviction.
- Changes in immigration status: A person’s temporary permission or protection may expire, be terminated or become disputed.
- Transfer from another agency: ICE may assume custody after a local jail, state facility or federal agency transfer, including situations without a resulting criminal conviction.
None of these examples automatically resolves whether detention is lawful in a particular person’s case. Immigration status, pending applications, prior orders, procedural requirements and court rulings can all matter.
What Does the Federal Government Say?
DHS states that immigration enforcement protects public safety and enforces federal immigration law. The agency also disputes some outside interpretations of its arrest data, including whether released datasets have been reviewed or placed in sufficient context.
Independent researchers and reporting organizations, including the Deportation Data Project, CBS News, Reuters and TRAC, have documented increased arrests or detention involving people without recorded criminal convictions.
The disagreement is partly about enforcement priorities and partly about definitions. A meaningful assessment should examine both the government’s asserted legal basis for enforcement and the documented criminal-history categories.
How to Search for Someone Arrested or Detained by ICE
The official ICE Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) allows family members, attorneys and other users to locate eligible people who are currently in ICE custody or have been in CBP custody for more than 48 hours.
Open the Official ICE Detainee Locator →
Search by A-Number
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1
Open the ICE detainee locator
Visit locator.ice.gov, the official DHS detainee search.
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2
Select Search by A-Number
If the person’s Alien Registration Number is known, select the A-number search option.
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Enter the nine-digit A-number
ICE requires nine digits in its search field. If the original number contains fewer digits, add leading zeros to reach nine digits.
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4
Select the country of birth
Choose the correct country of birth. This is required even when the A-number is available.
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Submit and examine the results
Review the facility and other publicly available custody information. If no result appears, check the identifying information before contacting the appropriate ICE office.
Search by Name and Country of Birth
If the A-number is unavailable, the locator also allows a biographical search.
- Open the official ICE detainee locator.
- Select the search by biographical information option.
- Enter the person’s exact first and last names.
- Select the correct country of birth.
- Add the date of birth where needed to narrow the result.
- Submit the search and examine any matching custody information.
The official locator warns that first and last names must match the agency’s stored information. A name variation, hyphenation difference or recent transfer can affect whether a result is returned.
What If ICE’s Locator Finds No Match?
USAGov recommends contacting an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations field office when a person cannot be located online. If the detention facility is already known, contact that facility directly.
Newly arrested individuals, people undergoing transfers and people in other agencies’ custody may not immediately appear in the expected search.
ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line
Phone: 1-888-351-4024
Live operators: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–8 PM Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
ICE states that the line can assist with basic case information, detention concerns, family separation, language assistance and certain urgent welfare issues.
If a child is missing after an immigration enforcement action, do not rely on the adult detainee locator. Seek immediate assistance from the responsible federal agency, child-welfare authority and qualified legal counsel.
How to Check an ICE Immigration Court Case Online
Immigration court proceedings are administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice, not ICE.
EOIR’s Automated Case Information System can provide basic information about certain immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals proceedings.
EOIR Immigration Case Search Steps
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1
Open Automated Case Information
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2
Enter the A-number
Use the person’s Alien Registration Number, ensuring it is entered in the format accepted by the website.
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Select nationality
The current EOIR interface also requests the person’s nationality. This field is different from ICE’s country-of-birth requirement.
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Review the available case status
Check for an immigration hearing, decision, appeal or other case information. Not every proceeding or every detail appears online.
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Confirm official notices
EOIR warns that its online case-status service is informational. Actual court-issued notices and decisions control the person’s official case obligations.
EOIR Automated Case Information Phone Line
Phone: 1-800-898-7180
This is an alternative to the online case-status search for eligible immigration proceedings.
What If There Is a Federal Criminal Immigration Case?
Some immigration-related conduct is prosecuted as a federal crime. Those cases are distinct from ordinary civil removal proceedings and are generally searched through federal district court records using PACER.
PACER — Federal Criminal and Civil Court Search →
PACER can also provide publicly available federal civil cases, including some habeas corpus petitions challenging detention. However, not every immigration challenge has a PACER docket, and sealed records will not be publicly available.
How to Request ICE Arrest, Detention and Immigration Case Records
There is no public search where anyone can download another person’s complete ICE enforcement file or immigration criminal-history report. Many immigration and detention records contain sensitive personal information protected by law.
To request records about yourself or someone who has authorized you to act, identify the agency that maintains the specific documents.
| Record needed | Government custodian | Correct request route |
|---|---|---|
| ICE enforcement or detention records | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement | ICE Freedom of Information Act |
| Immigration court Record of Proceeding | DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review | EOIR Record of Proceeding Request |
| EOIR records under FOIA or Privacy Act | Department of Justice / EOIR | EOIR FOIA Public Access Link |
| Immigration applications and Alien File material | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | USCIS FOIA / Privacy Act |
| Federal prosecution or habeas case | Federal district court | PACER Federal Court Search |
| State or local criminal case disposition | Relevant state or county trial court | Official criminal court clerk where the case was filed |
How to Submit an Immigration Records Request
- Identify the agency holding the record.
- Obtain the person’s complete legal name and A-number if available.
- Specify the record requested, such as detention records, a removal proceeding or immigration applications.
- Provide required identity verification and authorization when requesting another person’s protected records.
- Use the official agency FOIA, Privacy Act or court-record procedure.
- Keep the request-control number to track the agency’s response.
- Review the records with an immigration attorney where necessary.
I am requesting records maintained by [Agency] concerning my immigration enforcement or court proceedings, including [specific record types and applicable dates]. My identifying information and any required identity verification are provided through the agency’s authorized submission process. Please advise if this request should be redirected to another records custodian.
What to Do If a Family Member With No Criminal Record Is Detained by ICE
When someone is in ICE custody, it is important to distinguish immediate location and safety concerns from the legal question of whether detention or removal is authorized.
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Confirm the person’s location
Use the official ICE detainee locator and, if necessary, contact the appropriate field office or detention facility.
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Record essential information securely
Save the A-number, exact legal name, facility, booking or custody information and agency contact details where available. Do not publish private identifying information on social media.
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Check the immigration court case
Use EOIR Automated Case Information to review available hearing or decision information.
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Find qualified immigration representation
Contact a licensed immigration attorney or an EOIR-accredited representative through a recognized organization. Eligibility for release or relief depends on the actual case.
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Preserve important documents
Gather immigration notices, lawful-status documents, asylum or visa applications, prior orders and court dispositions. Provide documents to counsel through a secure method.
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Ask about custody and review options
An attorney may evaluate the availability of custody review, bond proceedings, administrative requests or judicial remedies. No single release procedure applies to every detained person.
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Confirm future hearings and deadlines
Use official notices and court instructions. Do not miss proceedings based on an assumption that a pending immigration application automatically pauses removal.
Where to Find Free or Low-Cost Immigration Legal Assistance
EOIR Pro Bono Legal Service Providers
The Justice Department publishes a regularly updated list of organizations and attorneys offering free immigration legal services, subject to eligibility and capacity.
EOIR-Recognized Organizations
Qualified accredited representatives working with recognized organizations may provide immigration representation within their authorization.
Can ICE Detain or Deport Someone Without a Criminal Conviction?
Yes, in qualifying circumstances. U.S. immigration law allows administrative detention and removal proceedings that do not depend on a criminal conviction. But whether a particular arrest, detention or removal is lawful requires applying the correct statute, procedures and court decisions to that person’s circumstances.
Arrest, Detention, Removal Proceedings and Deportation Are Different
| Stage | What it means | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| ICE arrest | A person is taken into immigration enforcement custody. | An arrest is not a criminal conviction or final removal decision. |
| ICE detention | The person remains in immigration custody while the relevant legal process continues or removal is arranged. | Custody may be subject to statutory requirements and available review procedures. |
| Immigration court proceeding | EOIR adjudicates eligible immigration matters, including removability and requested forms of relief. | Not every enforcement action follows the same immigration court procedure. |
| Final removal order | A removal decision has reached the applicable legal stage for enforcement. | Appeals, stays, reopening or other legal issues may affect execution. |
| Removal from the United States | The government carries out removal under applicable immigration law. | Legal protections, travel documentation and receiving-country rules can affect timing. |
Does a Pending Asylum or Green Card Application Prevent ICE Arrest?
Not necessarily. A pending application may be legally important, but its effect depends on the person’s current immigration status, prior removal history, the specific application and any applicable stay or authorization.
Reuters reported in September 2026 that some people arrested had pending asylum, work-authorization or permanent-residence claims. Such pending proceedings can complicate or delay removal, but they do not uniformly prevent arrest.
Are All Detained Immigrants Entitled to Bond?
No. Bond eligibility depends on the applicable custody statute, detention category, criminal and immigration history, proceedings and court rulings. Some people may seek immigration judge review, while others face mandatory detention provisions or different review mechanisms.
The appropriate question is not simply whether the person has a criminal conviction, but whether the government has a lawful detention basis and what review procedure applies.
How to Interpret ICE Criminal-Record Statistics Without Misleading Readers
Statistics about ICE arrests and detention are useful, but easily misinterpreted. Before repeating a percentage, check what is being counted.
Arrests
Counts enforcement events during a specified period. The number may differ from unique individuals or detention admissions.
Detention Population
Counts people held at a particular point in time. It does not describe everyone arrested during the prior month.
Detention Book-Ins
Counts admissions recorded under the relevant agency methodology, which may involve ICE arrests, CBP transfers or other sources.
Removal Proceedings
Counts immigration court cases or related adjudications under EOIR’s methodology. These are not automatically criminal prosecutions.
Five Common Reporting Errors
- Confusing no conviction with no charges: A person without a conviction may still face pending criminal charges.
- Equating immigration violations with criminal convictions: Many immigration proceedings are civil.
- Mixing arrest totals with detention snapshots: Different denominators lead to misleading percentages.
- Assuming all criminal convictions are violent: Criminal-history datasets can include older, minor or nonviolent offenses.
- Assuming no recorded history proves no offense ever occurred: Administrative records can be incomplete, delayed or subject to classification rules.
ICE’s published methodology itself explains that its “other immigration violators” classification refers to people without known criminal convictions or pending charges in the agency’s system at the time of enforcement.
This definition helps explain why a person may appear in a no-criminal-history category despite having a civil immigration matter or other unresolved legal issues.
How to Research Trends by State or City
Researchers can compare regional enforcement patterns using the Deportation Data Project, the TRAC Immigration Data Project, and ICE’s official statistics.
When comparing California, Texas, Illinois, New York or another state, use consistent dates and measurement categories. Statewide totals do not necessarily describe the practices of one city, detention center or field office.
Documented 2026 Cases and Reporting About Immigrants Without Criminal Records
Individual cases can illustrate how immigration enforcement affects people who do not have criminal convictions, but they should not be used to infer the circumstances of every detainee.
A September 2026 Reuters Example
Reuters reported on Dolores Mendoza and Roberto Avalos, a couple detained in Birmingham, Alabama, after domestic travel in September 2026. The report described them as having no criminal records, work authorization and pending family-based permanent-residence petitions. Their lawyer filed a federal court challenge to the detention.
The case demonstrates why pending immigration applications, work authorization, immigration status and a criminal conviction history need to be examined separately. Reuters’ description of the family’s circumstances is not itself a final judicial determination that detention was unlawful.
Read Reuters’ September 14, 2026 Report →
Can Individual ICE Cases Be Searched as Public Court Records?
Sometimes. An individual may have a federal court habeas proceeding, another civil challenge, a federal criminal prosecution, or a pending immigration court case. Each is maintained separately.
For an authorized inquiry involving a known individual, first determine the actual proceeding and case number. Search the corresponding court or use the appropriate records-request process; do not infer a person’s criminal history from an immigration detention notice alone.
ICE Detainee and Immigration Case Search: Common Problems
| Problem | Possible explanation | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| No result in ICE detainee locator | Name mismatch, recent arrest, transfer, other agency custody or ineligible record. | Check the A-number and country of birth; contact ICE ERO or the facility. |
| A-number has fewer than nine digits | ICE’s search field requires nine digits. | Add leading zeros to complete nine digits. |
| An individual under 18 cannot be found | ICE’s public ODLS does not include minors. | Contact the responsible agency and qualified child-welfare or immigration legal assistance. |
| EOIR shows no case | Not all immigration matters or proceedings appear in EOIR’s system. | Check official notices and contact the responsible agency or attorney. |
| EOIR shows an unexpected hearing | A case may have been rescheduled, transferred or updated. | Confirm with official court-issued notices and legal counsel. |
| ICE criminal-history category conflicts with court documents | Reporting delay, missing disposition, mistaken identity or differences in data definitions. | Obtain certified court records and seek an authorized records review or correction. |
| Person appears in immigration custody but no criminal court | The custody may relate to civil immigration enforcement rather than prosecution. | Check immigration case records, not merely criminal court databases. |
| FOIA request is pending | Agency processing, exemptions, identity verification or records retrieval. | Track the request and pursue urgent legal deadlines separately. |
ICE Arrests Without Criminal Records: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is ICE continuing to arrest immigrants without criminal records in 2026?
Yes. Federal data analyzed by CBS News and the Deportation Data Project shows substantial arrests involving people without recorded criminal convictions. In July 2026, more than half of ICE arrests involved people with neither a criminal conviction nor pending criminal charges, according to CBS News.
2. What percentage of ICE detainees have no criminal convictions?
TRAC reported that 70.6% of people in ICE detention on July 11, 2026—46,436 out of 65,765—had no recorded criminal conviction. This was a dated detention snapshot, not a percentage of all arrests, and may include people with pending criminal charges.
3. Can ICE arrest someone who has never committed a crime?
ICE can make civil immigration arrests without a prior criminal conviction where it has an applicable lawful enforcement basis. Whether an individual arrest or detention is legally valid depends on the person’s circumstances and the relevant law.
4. How can I find someone recently arrested by ICE?
Use the official ICE Online Detainee Locator System at locator.ice.gov. Search by A-number and country of birth or by exact name and country of birth. If there is no result, contact the appropriate ICE ERO field office or the Detention Reporting and Information Line.
5. Can I search ICE detainees by name for free?
Yes. ICE provides its official public detainee locator without charging a search fee. It requires identifying information and is not a complete historical arrest database. It does not search records of people under 18.
6. How do I check an immigrant’s court case after an ICE arrest?
Use the Department of Justice’s EOIR Automated Case Information System with the A-number and nationality. It provides certain immigration court details but does not display every case or bond matter. Federal criminal or habeas cases may require PACER.
7. Does having no criminal record prevent deportation?
No. Civil immigration law can authorize removal on grounds unrelated to a criminal conviction. The person’s immigration status, pending applications, removal orders, available protections and applicable legal proceedings determine the individual case.
8. How can I obtain ICE detention or arrest records?
Use the appropriate agency’s FOIA or Privacy Act procedure. ICE maintains enforcement and detention records, EOIR maintains immigration court records, and USCIS maintains certain immigration applications and Alien File materials. Protected third-party records generally require appropriate authorization or another lawful basis for disclosure.
9. Can immigrants without criminal records request release from detention?
Some detained individuals may have access to bond, custody review, administrative requests or federal judicial remedies. Eligibility differs by the legal detention category, prior immigration history and applicable law. An immigration attorney can assess the person’s specific options.
10. Where can families find free legal help after an ICE arrest?
The Executive Office for Immigration Review publishes a List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers and a roster of recognized organizations with accredited representatives. Services are subject to case acceptance, available capacity and eligibility.
Official ICE Arrest Data, Detainee Search and Public Records Sources
The following primary government sources and identified research publications support the figures, legal distinctions and search procedures used in this guide.
ICE and Government Statistics
- ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics and Definitions
- ICE Detention Policies and Resources
- Official ICE Detention Facilities
- Deportation Data Project — Summer 2026 ICE Arrests Analysis, September 8, 2026
- TRAC — July 11, 2026 Detention Snapshot and Criminal-Conviction Data
- CBS News — July 2026 Arrests Without Criminal Records, August 27, 2026
- Reuters — September 2026 Arrest, Detention and Deportation Analysis
Locate a Detainee or Immigration Court Case
- Official ICE Online Detainee Locator
- USAGov — Locate Someone Detained by ICE
- ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Offices
- DOJ EOIR Automated Immigration Court Case Information
- EOIR Immigration Court Online Resources