ICE arrests in Los Angeles plummet after 2025 surge, data show — arrests, demographics and enforcement shifts examined
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in the Los Angeles area plunged in early 2026 after a 2025 surge, reflecting shifting federal priorities and enforcement tactics that have stirred concern among immigrant communities, local leaders and legal advocates.
- Arrests surged in 2025: roughly 14,302–14,394 in 2025, up from about 4,684 in 2024 (Deportation Data Project; reporting by local outlets).
- Sharp early‑2026 decline: about 2,612 arrests so far in 2026 — more than 1,500 in January and 809 in February.
- Demographics and records: average age 41, 87% men, 52% born in Mexico; 39% had no prior convictions or pending charges.
What the numbers show
Federal records compiled by the Deportation Data Project show a sharp rise in ICE activity across Southern California in 2025 and a sudden drop in early 2026. The Los Angeles area figures cover Los Angeles County plus Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
Arrests jumped from roughly 4,684 in 2024 to more than 14,300 in 2025. Arrests peaked in June 2025 with nearly 2,500 detentions, then declined and were steady for several months before falling sharply in February 2026. After more than 1,500 arrests in January 2026, the Deportation Data Project shows about 809 arrests in February and a cumulative total of about 2,612 so far in 2026.
Sources: ABC7, The LA Local (Deportation Data Project compilation).
Who ICE arrested: demographics and criminal history
The records provide a snapshot of the people picked up during the surge. Arrests skewed heavily male — 87% — with an average age of 41. Slightly more than half (52%) were born in Mexico. On criminal history, 39% had no criminal convictions or pending criminal charges at the time of arrest; 46% had convictions and 15% had pending charges.
Advocates say the data suggest broad enforcement that swept up many people without criminal records, raising concerns among immigrant communities and local officials.
Sources: ABC7, The LA Local.
Why arrests fell: shifting tactics and political pressure
Local attorneys and investigative reporting point to two main reasons for the February 2026 drop: a tactical shift toward intelligence‑driven targeting and political pressure after highly publicized incidents.
Intelligence-led targeting: Immigration attorney Meredith Bown told 7 On Your Side that ICE “have pulled back in general” and are “trying to use more intelligence, more data gathering to look for people who have removal orders.” That indicates a move away from broad public sweeps toward targeted arrests of people already ordered removed.
Political and public scrutiny: The pullback followed scrutiny after the deaths of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, which prompted public and political pressure on federal immigration enforcement and led to scaling back large public operations.
Source: ABC7 / 7 On Your Side.
DHS response and data caveats
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security disputed aspects of the Deportation Data Project’s presentation and methodology. A DHS spokesperson said that since President Trump took office, “DHS law enforcement has been delivering on President Trump’s promise to the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists. We will continue to deliver on the President’s promise to make America safe again.”
The Deportation Data Project assembled its dataset from Freedom of Information Act releases and other federal records. Project organizers note the records have not been reviewed or audited by DHS or ICE; numbers may change if federal agencies revise or reclassify records. Reporters and analysts warn that different counting methods (for example, whether to include arrests by Customs and Border Protection or how to classify prior convictions) can produce different headline totals.
Sources: ABC7, The LA Local.
National trends and academic analysis
The local figures fit into broader national trends. The Deportation Data Project’s compilation shows hundreds of thousands of ICE arrests nationwide since the start of the Trump presidency — estimates range from about 313,000 to 384,490, depending on the dataset. DHS officials say a majority of those arrests involved people with convictions or pending charges.
An academic study from UCLA found that detention entries began to exceed exits starting in January 2025, reshaping Latino detentions under the Trump administration and affecting detention patterns and populations in meaningful ways.
Sources: ABC7, The LA Local, UCLA report (PDF).
Policy questions and public reaction
The rise and fall in arrests raise policy questions for federal, state and local leaders. Supporters of strict enforcement argue aggressive arrests remove dangerous individuals and protect public safety. Critics contend broad sweeps separate families, sow fear and ensnare people without criminal histories.
Local leaders and community groups in Southern California have called for clearer public data from ICE and DHS so independent reviewers can better assess who is being arrested and why. Legal experts warn that unclear data hinder accountability and public trust.
Source: The LA Local.
Implications for the Inland Empire
Economic impact: The Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino counties) relies on immigrant workers in logistics, construction, hospitality and agriculture. Sudden increases in ICE arrests can remove workers from jobs, disrupt businesses and affect local economies. If enforcement returns to broad sweeps, employers could face labor shortages and increased administrative costs; targeted enforcement could reduce sudden absences.
Political consequences: County supervisors and city leaders will face pressure from voters on both sides — balancing public safety messaging with policies to protect workers and preserve trust with immigrant communities.
Social effects: The demographic profile — many men in their 40s and a large share born in Mexico — means impacts on families, schools and neighborhoods. Community groups report fear and reduced engagement with local services during enforcement surges.
Regional context and reporting: ABC7, The LA Local.
Practical applications for residents
- Residents and employers should monitor local court and detention data and maintain contact with legal aid organizations.
- Immigrant families may want to update emergency plans and contact lists; employers should communicate about rights, resources and contingency planning.
- Legal clinics, churches and community groups may see fluctuating demand depending on enforcement patterns.
Guidance and resources: The LA Local, ABC7.
Reporting note
This article draws on federal records compiled by the Deportation Data Project, local investigative reporting by 7 On Your Side and ABC7, analysis by The LA Local, and an academic paper from UCLA. The Deportation Data Project’s releases have not been audited by DHS or ICE; DHS disputes aspects of the data and the project’s methodology.
Additional reference: National Today (LA coverage).
