U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contested a CBS News report on Monday that claimed fewer than 14% of illegal aliens arrested by ICE during President Donald Trump’s first year back in office had violent criminal records.
ICE stated that the headline misrepresents the severity of many crimes that are classified as “non-violent.”
CBS News reported that an internal Department of Homeland Security document showed ICE arrested nearly 393,000 illegal aliens between January 21, 2025, and January 31, 2026. According to the data cited by CBS, about 229,000 of those arrested had prior criminal charges or convictions, while roughly 153,000 were detained solely for civil immigration violations. The outlet emphasized that only about 13.9% of arrests involved individuals charged with or convicted of crimes it categorized as violent.
ICE responded publicly, arguing that the report’s framing relies on narrow legal definitions that minimize public safety concerns.
Here’s a more accurate headline, CBS.
Nearly 70% of criminal aliens detained by ICE have pending charges or prior convictions. So-called “non-violent” offenders include individuals charged with drug trafficking, distribution of child pornography, burglary, fraud, DUI,… https://t.co/FO629197Lt pic.twitter.com/FpJ0DE4KTK
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) February 9, 2026
“Nearly 70% of criminal aliens detained by ICE have pending charges or prior convictions,” the agency said in a statement posted on X. ICE said offenses classified as “non-violent” in the CBS report include drug trafficking, distribution of child pornography, burglary, fraud, driving while intoxicated, embezzlement, solicitation of a minor, and human smuggling.
“Labeling these offenses as ‘non-violent’ does not mean they aren’t threats to public safety,” ICE said.
CBS reported that the DHS document categorized approximately 58% of ICE arrests as involving illegal aliens with criminal histories, while nearly 40% involved individuals with no prior criminal record beyond immigration violations. The data did not include arrests conducted by U.S. Border Patrol agents operating outside the border region.
ICE did not dispute the arrest totals cited by CBS but said the report’s focus on violent-crime percentages fails to reflect the full scope of criminal activity associated with many of those taken into custody.
