According to a report released this Friday by the esteemed University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the arrest of Latino immigrants without criminal records in the United States has increased sixfold since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
The study highlights that from February to September 2025, an average of 6,000 Latinos without criminal histories were detained each month in immigration centers, compared to about 900 monthly during the same period in 2024 under Joe Biden's administration.
As a consequence, the share of detained immigrants without prior criminal records has risen dramatically, now accounting for more than one in three detainees, up from less than one in eight in 2024.
This investigation utilized official data acquired through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
The report notes that five nationalities—Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, and Ecuador—make up three-quarters of the arrests of Latinos without criminal backgrounds.
Researchers emphasized that Mexican detentions surged nearly eightfold, from 1,500 to 13,300 individuals, constituting over a quarter of the total.
Regarding Venezuelan nationals, arrests increased fourteenfold, reaching 5,600 detainees.
Additionally, there were 8,600 Guatemalans detained, almost eight times more than before; 6,000 Hondurans, approximately tenfold; and 2,800 Ecuadorians, more than double the previous numbers.
The report also indicates that the Trump Administration deported nearly nine out of ten detained Latinos without criminal records, with only a small percentage released to return to their communities.
"We focused on this group because they are not, by any measure, 'the worst of the worst,' but rather law-abiding, contributing members of society," declared the study's authors, Paul Ong, Jonathan Ong, and Sonja Díaz, challenging the narrative of the current Administration and Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem.
The study points out that most detained Latinos without criminal records are aged between 18 and 54, indicating they are of working age.
Moreover, nearly seven out of ten were detained for 15 days or more, with 60% relocated out of the state where they resided.
The document recalls that the current Administration aims to maintain an average of 100,000 immigrants detained daily, almost doubling the historical record of 50,200 under previous administrations.
Finally, the findings highlight a concerning trend for the remainder of Trump's term, with increasing detentions, apprehensions, and deportations, many involving individuals without criminal records.
Key Questions on Immigration Detentions
What has been the increase in arrests of Latinos without criminal records?
The arrests have increased from an average of 900 per month in early 2024 to 6,000 per month in 2025 under the Trump Administration.
Which nationalities are most affected by these detentions?
The nationalities most affected are Mexican, Guatemalan, Honduran, Venezuelan, and Ecuadorian, making up three-quarters of the arrests.
What is the age range of most detained Latinos without criminal records?
Most detained Latinos without criminal records are between 18 and 54 years old, indicating they are of working age.