UPDATE: A stunning new report reveals that 48% of individuals arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Northern California have no criminal record. This alarming trend comes as arrests have more than tripled this year compared to 2024, raising urgent questions about the agency’s enforcement priorities.
Data from the Deportation Data Project at the University of California, Berkeley indicates that in September 2025, 39% of those detained had prior criminal convictions, while 14% faced pending charges. This marks a significant shift from earlier months when those with criminal backgrounds were the majority.
The findings underscore a disturbing pattern as the current administration continues to expand its crackdown on immigration. In line with previous statements, including President Donald Trump‘s promise to deport the “worst of the worst,” the latest statistics confirm that a growing share of those detained are law-abiding individuals.
In the broader context, statistics reveal that approximately 74% of individuals in ICE detention centers nationwide lack any criminal history, according to the Transaction Records Access Clearinghouse. This trend raises concerns regarding the agency’s focus and the impact on immigrant communities.
In San Francisco, a recent decline in arrests at the immigration courthouse was noted, yet the overall number of ICE arrests in Northern California has surged dramatically between January 20 and October 15, 2025, when compared to the same timeframe last year. Notably, a 78% increase in deportations in California was documented in September by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The data, however, may not fully capture the scope of ICE operations, as approximately 11% of recorded arrests did not specify a state, potentially underrepresenting the actual numbers in Northern California. Moreover, arrests conducted by other agencies, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, are not included in this analysis.
The San Francisco Hold Room at 630 Sansome St. is increasingly becoming a focal point for detentions. In September alone, 246 new detention stays were recorded, reflecting a staggering 67% increase from the previous month. While immigrants typically spend only a few hours there before transfer, reports indicate at least 38 individuals were held longer than the recommended 12 hours.
This developing situation is garnering attention from advocacy groups and community leaders who are calling for urgent reforms to protect innocent individuals from being swept up in aggressive enforcement actions. As the crackdown continues, families and communities across Northern California are left grappling with the implications of these increased detentions.
As this story develops, it remains crucial for communities to stay informed and engaged. The growing number of arrests and the changing face of those detained underscore the urgent need for clarity and action regarding immigration enforcement policies. Further updates will follow as new data becomes available.
