Report Reveals 3 Immigrant Profiles Most at Risk of ICE Deportation

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Key Takeaways

• Undocumented immigrants face the highest risk of deportation; 87% of deportations between FY 2021–2024 involved individuals from Mexico and Northern Central America.
• Visa holders violating terms, like unauthorized employment or dropping out of school, lose legal status and become vulnerable to deportation.
• 79% of deportations from FY 2021–2024 involved noncitizens with criminal records, including DUIs, theft, drug possession, and domestic violence.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plays a critical role in enforcing U.S. immigration laws, focusing its efforts on specific groups of noncitizens. According to a report by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), three immigrant profiles are most at risk of being detained and deported by ICE. These are undocumented immigrants, visa holders who fail to follow their visa conditions, and noncitizens—including permanent residents—who have criminal records. These enforcement priorities highlight ICE’s focus on individuals who pose public safety risks or those with significant immigration law violations.

Report Reveals 3 Immigrant Profiles Most at Risk of ICE Deportation

Undocumented Immigrants and Deportation Risks

Undocumented immigrants face the highest risk among all immigrant groups for detention and deportation. Individuals classified as undocumented include those who entered the U.S. without authorization and those who legally entered but overstayed their visas. ICE statistics from recent years illustrate the agency’s ongoing focus on this group. In fiscal year 2024 alone, ICE deported 224,000 people apprehended at the border, while conducting an average of 43,000 deportations annually for noncitizens arrested within the U.S. between FY 2020 and FY 2024.

From FY 2021 to FY 2024, undocumented immigrants from Mexico 🇲🇽 and Northern Central America (including El Salvador 🇸🇻, Guatemala 🇬🇹, and Honduras 🇭🇳) constituted 87% of interior deportations. Mexicans alone accounted for 63% of these cases. This heavy concentration highlights ICE’s focus on individuals from regions with high migration flows to the United States.

Despite these enforcement efforts, undocumented individuals represent a significant and largely established part of U.S. society. As of 2022, around 11 million undocumented immigrants were living in the United States, making up 3.3% of the country’s total population and 23.8% of its immigrant population. Many of these individuals have lived in the U.S. for over a decade, contributing to their communities and building families and careers. However, the risk of deportation continues to cause fear and insecurity for this group.

Visa Holders Violating Their Terms

The second group targeted by ICE consists of individuals who entered the United States legally on temporary visas but later violated the terms of those visas. People in this category may be detained and deported for issues such as:

Tourists who engage in unauthorized employment.
Students who fail to maintain full-time enrollment or drop out of school.
Temporary workers who switch employers without proper approval.

While these visa holders initially entered the country lawfully, violating visa rules results in the loss of legal status. Once a visa holder is deemed out of compliance, they become vulnerable to deportation. ICE’s enforcement authority allows the agency to begin removal proceedings against such individuals, underscoring the importance of continuous compliance with visa conditions for anyone on a temporary status in the U.S.

Permanent Residents or Visa Holders with Criminal Records

Noncitizens, including those with green cards or temporary visas, can also face deportation if convicted of particular crimes. Specific offenses that can prompt ICE to initiate removal proceedings include:

Driving under the influence (DUI)
Drug possession
Theft
Domestic violence
Illegal firearm possession

Recent data shows that criminal convictions play a large role in ICE’s interior enforcement efforts. From FY 2021 to FY 2024, an estimated 79% of ICE deportations from the interior involved individuals with criminal records. Permanent residents, even those who have lived in the U.S. for decades, are not exempt from these enforcement measures. Convictions for certain crimes can lead to the loss of lawful status, making them eligible for deportation under U.S. immigration law.

These enforcement actions demonstrate ICE’s prioritization of public safety concerns. However, critics argue that some of the deportable offenses might be minor or occurred years ago, sparking debates about the fairness of targeting longtime residents and families for past offenses.

ICE’s Evolving Enforcement Priorities

ICE’s enforcement priorities have shifted over the years in response to changing administrations, policies, and resources. For example, in fiscal year 2016, nearly all individuals removed by ICE (99.3%) fell within the agency’s defined priorities. These priorities included:

National security threats, gang members, convicted felons, and recent border crossers.
Individuals convicted of “significant misdemeanors” or multiple misdemeanors.
People who entered or reentered the U.S. illegally after January 1, 2014.

While the details of these priorities have evolved, ICE’s core focus on public safety risks and immigration law violations remains largely intact. Changes in political leadership have sometimes shifted emphasis between interior and border enforcement, but the agency’s general approach aligns with targeting noncitizens deemed to pose higher risks.

The Deportation Process: What Happens?

When ICE identifies a noncitizen who may be deportable, the process begins with arrest and detention. The individual is then placed in removal proceedings, where an immigration judge reviews the case. During these proceedings, the individual may have opportunities to contest the deportation or apply for relief, such as asylum.

If a judge orders deportation, ICE moves forward with physically removing the individual to their country of citizenship. Deportation has serious consequences, including re-entry bans that can prevent individuals from legally returning to the U.S. for years—or even permanently. The exact length of the ban depends on the reasons for deportation and other factors.

Changing Trends in Enforcement

ICE’s overall enforcement activity has shifted significantly over the past decade, influenced by resource allocations and political priorities. For instance, interior removals decreased from an annual average of 155,000 between FY 2009 and FY 2016 to just 38,000 annually for the years FY 2021 through FY 2024. At the same time, ICE increased its focus on border-related deportations, reflecting broader trends in migration patterns and enforcement efforts.

As of October 2024, approximately 3.6 million cases were pending in U.S. immigration courts. This backlog has contributed to lengthy wait times for removal proceedings, adding to the uncertainty faced by noncitizens undergoing the deportation process. While ICE continues to carry out its responsibilities, the strain on immigration courts suggests broader challenges for the immigration enforcement system.

Impacts on Immigrant Communities

ICE’s deportation priorities—focusing on undocumented immigrants, visa violators, and individuals with criminal records—have far-reaching effects on immigrant communities:

Undocumented immigrants often live with constant anxiety about potential deportation, which can disrupt families, workplaces, and communities.
Visa holders need to carefully follow their visa conditions to avoid losing their legal status and becoming subject to enforcement.
Noncitizens with criminal records, even those who have rehabilitated or committed minor offenses, face the possibility of removal, which can separate them from their families and communities.

Mixed-status families, where some members are U.S. citizens and others are at risk of deportation, are particularly vulnerable. If one member is detained or removed, the entire household may bear the emotional and financial consequences.

Moving Forward: Staying Informed

For immigrants and their advocates, staying informed about ICE’s enforcement priorities and processes is critical. Understanding how ICE operates and which groups are targeted helps individuals make informed decisions about their status and legal options.

For more information about deportation, legal rights, and immigration enforcement policies, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. This official resource offers detailed guidance about rights and responsibilities under U.S. immigration law.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com highlights that the focus on these three groups reflects ICE’s ongoing strategy to prioritize public safety and law enforcement. However, these enforcement actions also reveal deep challenges within the immigration system, from court backlogs to the tension between legal compliance and humanitarian concerns. For immigrants, employers, and communities, navigating these complexities remains an essential but challenging task.

As immigration policies and enforcement strategies evolve, understanding these priorities remains essential for anyone potentially affected. By staying updated and acting within the framework of U.S. immigration laws, immigrants can navigate these challenges while seeking opportunities for stability and security.

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Undocumented Immigrants → Individuals in the U.S. without lawful status, either by unauthorized entry or overstaying their visas.
Removal Proceedings → Legal process where an immigration judge determines if a noncitizen should be deported from the U.S.
Visa Compliance → Adherence to the specific terms and conditions of a temporary visa to maintain lawful status in the U.S.
Interior Enforcement → Immigration enforcement activities targeting individuals already residing within the U.S., as opposed to those at the border.
Re-entry Ban → A period during which a deported individual is prohibited from legally returning to the U.S., sometimes permanently.

This Article in a Nutshell

Who Does ICE Target?
ICE prioritizes deporting undocumented immigrants, visa violators, and noncitizens with criminal records. From border apprehensions to interior arrests, the agency enforces immigration laws while sparking debate about fairness and family disruption. Understanding ICE’s focus helps immigrants navigate risks, highlighting the balance between public safety and the human impact of enforcement efforts.
— By VisaVerge.com