ICE Arrests Higher in Texas Than California Under Trump Administration Per Federal Data Review

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted more arrests in Texas than in California since the start of the Trump administration, according to a review of federal data. The data covers the period from January 20, 2025, to March 10, 2026. Texas recorded over 94,000 arrests, while California had approximately 33,500.

The Deportation Data Project, a nongovernmental organization, obtained the figures through Freedom of Information Act requests.

Factors Influencing Arrest Numbers A former immigration judge, Andrew Arthur, a resident fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, attributed the difference to sanctuary policies in California.

These policies limit local and state law enforcement from honoring ICE detainer requests to transfer individuals into federal custody. As a result, ICE has deployed additional personnel to communities to locate individuals after their release from local detention. Arthur stated that local and state cooperation impacts ICE's arrest capabilities.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that support from local and state police is essential for arresting individuals with criminal records. In sanctuary jurisdictions, ICE and Border Patrol must conduct operations in communities to find specific individuals, which requires more resources than transfers from jails.

This approach was used in cities such as Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago; Minneapolis; New Orleans; and Portland, Oregon. Those operations resulted in fewer than 7,000 arrests each in North Carolina, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, and Oregon.

Broader Arrest Trends and State Variations Since January 2025, ICE has arrested nearly 400,000 undocumented immigrants nationwide, according to a CBS News report.

Arrests increased significantly from the final six months of the previous administration, per a report by Graeme Blair and David Hausman for the Deportation Data Project. ICE is currently averaging 1,000 arrests per day. New York, with an estimated 650,000 undocumented immigrants, had fewer than 14,000 arrests in the period.

Florida has seen high arrest numbers similar to Texas, aided by state-federal partnerships. A spokesman for the governor said the state provides tools and strategies to support federal deportation efforts.

A White House spokeswoman described the administration's deportation initiatives as successful, including operations in sanctuary areas. The spokeswoman stated that the administration remains committed to deporting individuals with criminal records regardless of location.

Context and Next Steps Sanctuary policies affect how detainers are handled when local police arrest undocumented immigrants.

Without cooperation, federal agencies must allocate more time and personnel for community-based searches. The data highlights variations by state political leanings, with higher arrests in states that cooperate with federal efforts.

ICE has not provided comprehensive arrest data to the Washington Examiner despite multiple requests. Future deportations may depend on continued state-level collaboration and resource allocation.