ICE in California: a UCLA study reveals arrests of migrants during USCIS appointments and in court

ICE in California: A UCLA study reveals migrant arrests during USCIS appointments and in courts The investigation documented almost 15,000 deportations in seven counties and an increase in detentions of people without criminal records - 5 minutes reading The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted arrests of migrants during USCIS appointments and in courts in Southern California. A study documented how operations in California extended to these spaces and neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area during 2025 and 2026. How ICE arrested migrants during appointments and hearings in California - According to the Deportation Data Project report, federal agents modified their detention methods during Donald Trump's second term. - Procedures conducted outside of prisons and jails gained more prominence and included interventions in court buildings and periodic checks with immigration authorities. The researcher Graeme Blair, a professor of Political Science at UCLA and author of the study, explained that Los Angeles served as a testing area for this strategy since June 2025. Agents began making detentions in Home Depot parking lots, residential communities, and courts, in addition to regular appointments with ICE. The official UCLA statement specified that these procedures continued during the fall of 2025 and intensified in the summer of 2026. Thus, arrests in immigration courts were part of a broader transformation in federal control mechanisms. ICE arrests increased by more than 3400% among migrants without criminal records The report revealed that detentions made outside of penitentiaries increased from less than 200 per month in 2024 to more than 1700 in June 2025 in the ICE jurisdiction of Los Angeles. The investigation also identified a change in the profile of the detained people: - Without a definitive deportation order: arrests increased by almost 1400% during the June 2025 peak compared to 2024 levels. - Without criminal records: detentions grew by more than 3400% compared to the average monthly rate in 2024. - With convictions for nonviolent offenses: the number of people arrested approximately doubled between 2024 and the 2025-2026 period. Blair explained that many of the immigrants reached by this strategy could still contest their cases in court. The researcher pointed out that previous administrations did not consider these groups a priority. The increase in ICE detentions of people without criminal records was not limited to June 2025. During 2026, the monthly arrests of this group remained, on average, more than 1200% above the levels recorded in 2024. Almost 15,000 deportations in seven counties of Southern California - The investigation included the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. - The city of Los Angeles accounted for 33% of the arrests outside of penitentiaries recorded in the entire jurisdiction. Other areas with high agent activity were Santa Ana, San Bernardino, Santa Maria, and Camarillo. There were also numerous detentions in Lompoc and Victorville, although most corresponded to transfers from federal prisons. In total, the study counted almost 15,000 deportations of people arrested in this region during 2025 and 2026. The data showed that the procedures continued after the initial deployment and that only in July 2026 were there more than 1000 arrests. What happened to migrants detained by ICE in Los Angeles - 62% of the people arrested between January 2025 and May 2026 were deported within 60 days of their detention. - During that same period, only 7% regained their freedom in the United States. Among those arrested during June and July 2025, 75% were deported by August 2026. Another 16% regained their freedom, while 6% were transferred to other federal agencies and 3% remained detained at the end of the data. The report also described the journey of the immigrants under custody. Many initially passed through temporary ICE facilities in downtown Los Angeles before being transferred to larger detention centers. Among the facilities used were the ICE Advance Processing Center and Desert View Annex, both located in Adelanto. The investigation also identified transfers to facilities in Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas before deportations. Another finding was the increase in prolonged detention periods. The proportion of people detained for more than 60 days increased from 15% in 2024 to nearly 30% in 2025 and 2026. What the authorities and immigration organizations said about ICE According to ABC7, California Governor Gavin Newsom questioned the reports about a supposed 45-day federal operation in the state. The governor assured that California would defend its communities and demand accountability from federal agents. For his part, the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), Markwayne Mullin, rejected the existence of extraordinary intensification of procedures. The official maintained that authorities pursued immigrants they considered more dangerous daily, even on weekends and holidays. The Los Angeles Immigrant Rights Coalition (Chirla) called the study's results alarming. Its policy director, Jeannette Zanipatin, recommended that people with scheduled appointments develop a safety plan, inform someone they trust about their attendance, and establish contingency measures in case of detention. The specialist also highlighted the importance of community solidarity and used a Spanish expression to convey her message: "The people save the people." - 1 - 2 A phenomenon is approaching that will end a period of ten consecutive days of rain and cause a weekend of very marked contrasts, with cold and some sun: the affected areas - 3 Fernando Tornello, the voice of Formula 1: "If I had a good car, Colapinto would be winning races" - 4 At what price does the dollar open on Monday, October 19