By The Opinion
New academic analysis reveals profound shift in US immigration policy during President Donald Trump’s second term. According to data collected by the University of California, Berkeley, immigration detentions in public spaces more than doubled in the last year, representing an increase of more than 1,000%.
The report, prepared by the Deportation Data Project (DDP), documents that arrests made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are no longer concentrated primarily in jails or prisonsas happened in previous years, but have expanded to streets, courts and immigration offices. This phenomenon is described by researchers as “novel” due to its scale and scope.
“At the same time as ICE has arrested extra these that likely could acquire their cases and defend within the United States, arrests were ending extra ceaselessly in deportation,” Professor David Hausman, co-director of the Deportation Details Project tells @NBCNews: https://t.co/hO3O9gCHF9 #BerkeleyLaw
— UC Berkeley Regulations (@BerkeleyLaw) April 8, 2026
Changes in the profile of detainees
The study also identifies a transformation in the profile of detained people. The likelihood that immigration authorities will focus their operations on individuals with criminal records has decreased considerably. In contrast, arrests of people without criminal history increased by 770% during the period analyzed.
This shift is explained, in part, by the increase in operations in public spaces, where it is more likely to find migrants without a criminal record. Meanwhile, transfers of people from jails and prisons, which previously made up the majority of arrests, barely doubled.
The figures contrast with the position of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has maintained that the majority of arrests correspond to individuals with criminal records. However, the researchers assure that their analysis is based on official data obtained directly from ICE through requests covered by the Freedom of Information Act.
Fewer releases and more deportations
Another key finding is the significant reduction in detainee releases. During the previous administration, it was common for people without a criminal record to be released within 60 days while they continued their immigration processes. Nowadays, this practice has become exceptional.
The report indicates that the probability of being released in that period fell to just 7%, while the rate of deportations carried out in less than two months doubled, going from 27% to 57%. This change has contributed to a five-fold increase in the total number of deportations in the last year.
Additionally, the capacity of the detention system was greatly expanded. The federal government more than quadrupled the number of beds available for people arrested within the countrywhich has allowed more migrants to be kept in custody for prolonged periods.
Researchers warn that these conditions have led to a necessary increase in voluntary departures, which multiplied by 28. According to the report, many migrants choose to abandon their cases due to the difficulties of remaining detained. while they wait for a judicial resolution.
Taken together, the data reflect a broader strategy: increase the number of arrests, extend them to more areas and reduce the chances that detainees will remain in the country.
Although the pace of operations showed a slight slowdown in recent weeks, the study concludes that the long-established trend of tightening immigration policy remains without substantial changes.
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