Facts are technically correct but framed in a way that likely leads to a wrong impression. Learn more in Methodology.
ICE arrest data or an independent dataset confirms the proportion of ICE arrests that involve individuals who were charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. is approximately 70%.
DHS/ICE did make the claim: the DHS press release (Feb 10, 2026) states “nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S.” Independent analyses of ICE data for the period Jan. 20–Oct. 15, 2025 (Deportation Data Project / New York Times / Cato analyses) found roughly 64–66% of arrests had either convictions or pending charges—figures the administration rounded toward 70%. But point‑in‑time detention snapshots (e.g., ICE’s Jan. 7, 2026 detention snapshot) show a lower share (about 52%), and the 70% figure depends on (a) choosing a specific time window, (b) counting pending charges as “criminal,” and (c) not distinguishing violent from minor offenses. Verdict: Misleading — the 70% claim can be supported for certain measures/timeframes if pending charges are included, but it omits key context (time period, inclusion of charges vs convictions, and crime types) and therefore overstates what a median reader would understand.