ICE & CBP terrorizing cities
Terror as policy
Mass detention and deportation target people with no criminal records, divert law enforcement resources, and terrorize families—without improving safety.
The facts are clear
DHS is expanding power, not safety
With a budget exceeding $170 billion, the Department of Homeland Security is escalating enforcement in ways that prioritize spectacle over public safety. Law-abiding immigrants are being targeted, racial profiling is increasing, and sweeping operations are focused on people who pose no threat. This is a costly expansion of federal power that history will judge harshly.
01
95% have no violent record
The overwhelming majority of people in ICE detention have no violent convictions. Billions are being spent to detain individuals who pose little to no public safety risk. Expanding detention under these conditions diverts resources away from strategies that actually reduce harm.
02
Cruelty and escalation do not equal safety
Reports detail tactics that include excessive force, tear gas used in civilian settings, dangerous vehicle maneuvers, and aggressive crowd control measures. These actions increase fear and instability in communities rather than improving safety. When enforcement becomes reckless, public trust erodes and harm increases.
03
Targeting lawful families
DHS operations have included people with lawful status, no criminal record, serious medical conditions, and even U.S. citizens caught in enforcement sweeps. At the same time, lawful protections for millions have been revoked or destabilized.
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What we know
Courts are pushing back
Federal judges nationwide have determined that the administration’s immigration detention practices violate the law. This pattern is widespread and reflects significant judicial concern regarding unlawful detention and executive overreach.
// Judicial rebuke
373 to 28 against the administration
Judges have ruled by a margin of 373 to 28 that the administration is unlawfully detaining immigrants who should not be confined (as of Feb. 2026). This significant disparity highlights the frequent rejection of the government’s legal arguments by the courts. The issue reflects a systemic pattern of legal violations rather than a marginal dispute.
// Illegal detention
3,500+ illegally held
More than 3,500 people have been placed in immigration detention in ways courts have determined to be unlawful (as of Feb. 2026). These are individuals who should not be behind bars under the existing law. Each case represents both a personal harm and a costly misuse of public resources.
// Record expansion
2,450% increase in non-criminal detentions
In just ten months, detention of immigrants with no criminal record has surged by more than 2,450%. This dramatic spike reflects a deliberate shift toward targeting people who pose no public safety threat. Enforcement priorities have expanded far beyond serious offenses.
// Arresting the innocent
7x increase in arrests of the innocent
For the first time, ICE is arresting more people without criminal records than those with prior convictions. Arrests of people with no record have increased sevenfold. The data shows a move away from targeted enforcement and toward sweeping mass detention.
// Resource diversion
34,000 personnel diverted in total
Approximately 25,000 federal and 9,000 local law enforcement personnel have been diverted into mass deportation efforts. That means fewer officers focused on violent crime, community safety, and emergency response. Redirecting this workforce strains local systems and undermines public safety priorities.
// Misplaced priorities
$200 million in frivolous department waste
Nearly $200 million has been spent on luxury aircraft for the Secretary’s travel and media appearances. That amount is roughly equivalent to recent cuts to pediatric cancer research. At a time of budget strain, these spending choices raise serious questions about priorities.
// Budget imbalance
$1 billion+ in delays
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) manages a $170 billion budget, comparable to some of the world’s largest military forces, yet it has delayed the disbursement of over $1 billion in disaster relief aid. Communities awaiting recovery funds experience significant delays, even as enforcement spending increases. This disparity underscores the prioritization of resources.
// Contempt for courts
96 court orders
In a single month, in one federal district court alone, ICE violated 96 court orders. Disregarding judicial rulings undermines the rule of law and weakens constitutional checks and balances. When court orders are ignored, democratic accountability is at risk.
Latest resources & news
The stories of mass deportation
Toddlers with cancer, five-year-olds used as pawns, babies teargassed, thousands of hardworking immigrants locked up illegally, our neighbors brutalized or killed–these are the real stories of mass deportation
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