ICE Raids Target Immigrant Communities: Who Is Affected and By How Much

88tumble
3 days ago
3 min read

Recent months have seen a dramatic escalation in immigration enforcement, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting widespread raids across the nation. While the stated goal is to remove dangerous criminals, government data and recent statistics reveal that the impact is far broader, disproportionately affecting immigrant communities—especially Latinx, Asian, and other people of color—regardless of criminal background.

Who Is Being Targeted?

Latinx Communities:Latinx immigrants, particularly from Mexico, Central America, and South America, remain the largest group arrested, detained, and deported by ICE. In Los Angeles County, for example, an estimated 79% of undocumented residents are from these regions.

Asian Communities:Asian immigrants—especially those from Vietnam, China, and Cambodia—are increasingly being targeted, with nail salons, restaurants, and other small businesses frequently raided by ICE. Vietnamese and Chinese salon workers, in particular, are vulnerable due to the prevalence of Asian ownership in the nail salon industry.

Other Affected Groups:Black immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean, as well as Indigenous people from Latin America, are also subject to enforcement, though in smaller numbers. Mixed-status families and even U.S. citizens are impacted by the fear and disruption caused by raids.

How Many People Are Being Arrested?

Surge in Detentions: Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, the number of individuals placed in immigration detention solely for immigration offenses has surged by over 800%, from roughly 860 per month to about 7,800 per month1.
Total Arrests: By early June 2025, ICE had detained over 100,000 immigrants, a daily average more than twice the rate seen last year under former President Joe Biden1 6.
Arrests of Non-Criminals: A significant portion of these arrests are of people charged only with immigration violations, not additional criminal offenses1.
Recent Spike: In the first 50 days of the Trump administration, ICE made 32,809 enforcement arrests, more than the entire previous fiscal year under the previous administration7.
Historical Comparison: In fiscal year 2024, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made about 33,242 at-large arrests for the entire year, while in just the first 20 weeks of 2025, ICE arrests topped 100,000—on pace for 260,000 in a full year, compared to 113,000 in FY 2024 and 170,000 in FY 20236 7.
Ice Protest in Immigrant and Asian Communites

What Are the Consequences?

Community Fear: Raids have created widespread fear, with many immigrants—including legal residents—avoiding public spaces, schools, and workplaces.
Business Impact: Asian-owned businesses, especially nail salons, are suffering from loss of customers and staff, as workers are detained or afraid to come to work.
Family Separation: Many families are being separated, with parents and children living in constant fear of detention or deportation.

Key Statistics

Metric	Value (2025, Trump Admin)	Value (2024, Biden Admin)
Detainees for immigration offenses only	~7,800/month (up 800% from 860)	Lower, exact figures vary
Total ICE arrests (first 20 weeks)	100,000+	33,242 (FY 2024, at-large)
Projected annual arrests	260,000	113,000 (FY 2024, all arrests)
Criminal vs. non-criminal arrests	Many non-criminals detained	Lower proportion

Conclusion

ICE raids are having a profound impact on immigrant communities across the United States, with arrests and detentions surging to levels not seen in years. While the administration has emphasized targeting criminals, the majority of those detained are being held for immigration violations alone. The fallout is felt most acutely by Latinx and Asian communities, but the ripple effects touch all Americans who value diversity, community, and economic vitality.

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