Introduction
This article was submitted for fact-checking due to widespread claims circulating online that presidents before Donald Trump — particularly Democrats — were more aggressive in arresting and deporting undocumented immigrants than Trump’s administration. The article, published by BBC News, outlines who was arrested by ICE under Donald Trump’s presidency, but does it do so fairly and accurately? We’ve taken a closer look at the facts, context, and consistency within the article to assess its reliability.
Historical Context
Immigration enforcement in the United States has long been a central issue of political debate across presidencies. Under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, ICE conducted worksite raids and mass deportations, with Obama earning the nickname “Deporter-in-Chief” for deporting over three million people—more than any previous U.S. president. Trump’s administration promised a more high-profile and aggressive approach, focusing on both criminals and non-criminal undocumented individuals, sparking both support and protest. Understanding this context helps assess how Trump’s enforcement priorities compared to previous administrations.
Fact-Check of Specific Claims
Claim #1: “About 51,000 undocumented migrants were in Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention as of early June – the highest on record since September 2019.”
This statement is accurate. According to publicly available data from ICE, during early June 2025, the daily population of detained non-citizens hovered around 51,000. This marked a significant increase from lower numbers during pandemic-era limitations and was the highest since the 2019 peak recorded during the Trump administration. The article cites a figure estimated by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University, which has a reputation for providing consistent and verified immigration enforcement data.
Claim #2: “44% [of detainees] had no criminal record aside from entering the US without permission.”
This claim is substantiated by TRAC data, which showed that a large portion of ICE detainees under the Trump administration had no prior criminal convictions besides immigration violations. The distinction between civil immigration offenses (like overstaying a visa) and criminal acts (like drug or violent crimes) is crucial. ICE’s enforcement operations were increasingly broad under Trump, capturing many individuals with no criminal backgrounds. Independent analysis from the Migration Policy Institute supports this characterization, indicating a broader net being cast beyond criminal offenders.
Claim #3: “ICE has characterised those arrested in LA as ‘the worst of the worst’… but how many have criminal histories is unclear.”
This portion of the article presents accurate information with appropriate skepticism. It reports that ICE highlighted certain criminal cases among its arrests in Los Angeles, but does not give comprehensive figures to support the claim that all were dangerous criminals. This reflects a broader trend in immigration enforcement narratives — using specific high-profile crimes to justify wide-scale operations. Without publicly available full arrest data, the number of truly serious offenders remains unverifiable. Therefore, the article’s statement that “how many have criminal histories is unclear” is justified and fair.
Claim #4: “Some tourists and visitors have been arrested and detained in ICE centers due to visa errors or miscommunications.”
This claim is supported by verified public reports. Multiple credible news outlets have documented cases of foreign nationals, including Canadians, British nationals, and even high-profile figures like social media influencer Khaby Lame, being temporarily detained by U.S. immigration authorities due to visa technicalities or overstays. These events are not unprecedented and align with broader reports of increased scrutiny under Trump’s immigration agenda. While rare, such incidents underline how the enforcement machinery sometimes impacted even those with minimal violations.
Conclusion
The BBC article provides a largely accurate depiction of who was arrested under ICE during Donald Trump’s administration. The data points it presents are backed by credible independent sources, particularly the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse and multiple immigration policy think tanks. It also acknowledges when some numbers are unclear or unverifiable, enhancing its credibility. In response to the user’s question: yes, under President Barack Obama, ICE deportations were numerically higher overall than under Donald Trump, especially in the first term, but Trump’s enforcement was broader in targeting all undocumented immigrants, not just those with criminal records. Furthermore, the article conveys this reality without veering into partisan blame or exaggeration, although the lack of direct comparisons with Obama or Bush may lead some readers to assume Trump’s administration was uniquely aggressive.
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Link to Original Article
