News Summary
A significant increase in arrests by ICE in San Diego and Imperial counties has alarmed community advocates and officials. Over half of those detained lacked criminal records, revealing a shift from the Trump administration’s previous strategies. Between January and June 2017, arrests by ICE doubled, with 53% of individuals having no prior charges. Community fears grow over the implications of these enforcement tactics, particularly regarding arrests made in sensitive locations like courthouses, which are seen as intimidation against the immigrant community.
San Diego – A recent surge in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the San Diego and Imperial counties has raised concerns among community advocates and officials. Data from the Deportation Data Project reveals that over half of those detained in the first six months of 2017 had no criminal records, a notable shift from previous enforcement patterns under the Trump administration’s mass deportation policies.
During the period from January to early June 2017, ICE’s San Diego field office conducted 1,042 arrests, nearly doubling the 602 arrests made during the same timeframe in the previous year. The data shows that approximately 53% of those arrested were individuals without any criminal charges or convictions. In contrast, 33% had prior criminal convictions and around 15% faced pending criminal charges. This represents a drastic departure from the previous year, when 74% of those arrested had identifiable criminal histories.
While the Trump administration had claimed their deportation strategy focused primarily on individuals with criminal backgrounds who pose a threat to public safety, the recent statistics paint a different picture. In May and June, there was a significant increase in the percentage of arrests involving individuals without criminal charges, rising from 20% in April to 62% in May and reaching 76% in early June.
ICE’s enforcement tactics have led to criticism regarding their methods. The Criminal Alien Program, which specifically targets individuals with criminal backgrounds, accounted for only 14% of local arrests this year. Advocacy groups have expressed concerns that this suggests quotas may not have been exclusively aimed at individuals with criminal histories. Reports indicate that the Trump administration set a daily arrest quota of 3,000 due to growing dissatisfaction with arrest rates.
In San Diego, Mexican nationals constituted 65% of ICE arrests this year, reflecting the local immigrant demographics. However, arrests have also included individuals from various countries, such as Guatemala, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Colombia. Alarmingly, at least 39 of those detained in 2017 were children, and the majority of arrests involved men, making up 89% of the total.
Moreover, advocates are expressing deep concern regarding the rise in arrests made outside immigration hearings in courthouses, which many view as an intimidation tactic against vulnerable individuals seeking legal status. Cases of “collateral arrests”—where individuals with no criminal history are detained during operations targeting others—have also been reported, fostering distrust within immigrant communities.
One notable case involves an Afghan man who assisted U.S. troops and was arrested by ICE just a week after attending an immigration hearing. His situation illustrates the potential dangers faced by individuals returning to their countries, as Afghanistan remains an area of significant risk.
As protests against the administration’s immigration policies grow in San Diego County, local tensions continue to escalate. Demonstrators have been vocal against the new deportation strategies, reflecting widespread anxiety among communities affected by these enforcement actions. A California Republican legislator group has called on the Trump administration to concentrate on unlawful immigrants with violent criminal histories while simultaneously proposing pathways to legal status for non-criminal individuals.
These ongoing developments illustrate a striking transformation in ICE’s enforcement patterns since the inception of Trump’s deportation efforts. With community concerns heightened and advocacy groups mobilizing against such practices, the future of immigration enforcement in San Diego and beyond remains uncertain, leaving many individuals to grapple with an increasingly complicated legal landscape.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Undocumented Migrants Face Increased Fear Due to Immigration Raids in San Diego
Two Drivers Arrested in Fatal Hit-and-Run Incident in Clairemont
Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage in San Diego
Detention of Hotel Employee Raises Concerns in San Diego
ICE Arrests 11 Iranian Nationals Amid Security Concerns
Bishop Pham Leads Interfaith Support for Immigrants in San Diego
Detention of Afghan Translator Sparks Outrage in San Diego
ICE Agents Increase Apprehensions at San Diego Courthouses
San Diego Rallies Against ICE Raids Impacting Undocumented Workers
Increased ICE Enforcement in San Diego Courthouses Raises Concerns
Additional Resources
- NBC San Diego
- Wikipedia: Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- CBS News
- Google Search: ICE deportation policies
- CNN
- Google Scholar: ICE arrest statistics
- Reuters
- Encyclopedia Britannica: ICE enforcement policies
- Fox 5 San Diego
- Google News: ICE deportations San Diego

Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.