Data show ICE is as much as 115 times more likely to arrest non-citizen Latinos than non-citizens from other ethnic and racial groups
Report available here. Recording available here.
New York, NY—Today, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), in partnership with Dr. Chloe East of the University of Colorado Boulder, released a new report analyzing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement practices in New York. The report reveals disproportionate impact of ICE arrests on Latino communities across the state and provides critical insights into regional differences in enforcement patterns.
Using ICE data on 252,571 national administrative arrests, the report examines arrest timing, methods, demographic factors, and locations. ICE categorizes locations by Areas of Responsibility (AORs), with Buffalo and New York City representing New York State’s two AORs. The data show stark contrasts between upstate and downstate enforcement and demonstrate how ICE operations evolved during the Trump Administration.
“This report lays bare the reality that ICE enforcement in New York is not just heavy-handed—it is discriminatory,” said Mario Bruzzone, Vice President of Policy at the New York Immigration Coalition. "Latino communities are being targeted in their neighborhoods and homes, often regardless of criminal history. City leaders and policymakers must not wait for this trend to worsen, because delay is dangerous. They must act now to protect families and ensure that Latino communities in New York are safe, and pass the Access to Representation Act to ensure that immigrant New Yorkers have access to the legal services they need to uphold their due process rights."
"The numbers reveal that ICE is disproportionately targeting Latinos and the vast majority of those arrested by ICE have no criminal conviction. This will have serious consequences for New York families and communities," said Chloe East, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Key findings from the report include:
- Latinos disproportionately targeted: Regardless of nationality, Latino individuals were arrested at significantly higher rates across New York and nationwide.
- Community arrests drive enforcement trends: While headlines often highlight courthouse arrests, the report finds that community arrests—particularly of Latino men without criminal records—were the primary driver of increased ICE enforcement.
- New York City arrests differ from national patterns: Although growth in immigration arrests in NYC was slower compared to other regions, data from cities like Los Angeles show that enforcement can escalate quickly. The report underscores the need for city officials to prepare for potential expansions in ICE activity.