ICE detentions of migrants without criminal records declined sharply in the first months of 2026 following political and public backlash to a large-scale enforcement operation in Minneapolis, according to new federal data.
The number of people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody fell 12% from a record high in January to the end of March, driven largely by a 21% drop in detainees without criminal records, the agency reported. The shift marks the first significant decline since President Donald Trump returned to office and expanded deportation efforts, even as overall detention levels remain historically elevated.
