Report: Nearly half of immigrants arrested by ICE in Mass. had no criminal conviction or charge

"Data released by the Deportation Data Project shows that about 45 percent of immigration arrests from last year through early March 2026 involved people without criminal convictions or pending criminal cases."

"The Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly claimed that 70 percent of immigration arrests involve someone who either has a criminal conviction or has been charged with a crime. The project's data shows that figure is just 54 percent."

"Just over 7,000 people were detained by immigration agents in Massachusetts in 2025 and so far in 2026, according to the Deportation Data Project, which is led by academics and lawyers."

"While about 40 percent of the apprehensions were unclassified, nearly 900 were 'collateral' and more than 3,300 were 'targeted' arrests, according to the report."

In Massachusetts, nearly half of immigration arrests since the Trump Administration began involved individuals without criminal convictions. Data from the Deportation Data Project indicates that 45% of arrests from last year to early March 2026 were of this nature. The Department of Homeland Security claims that 70% of arrests involve individuals with criminal records, but the project's findings suggest this figure is only 54%. Over 7,000 people were detained in Massachusetts, with a significant portion classified as 'other immigration violators.'

Read at Boston.com