ICE street arrests disproportionately target Latinos, investigation finds

Key facts

• ICE street arrests in New York and New Jersey disproportionately target Latinos.
• An investigation analyzed over 1,200 lawsuits.
• 93% of immigrants arrested off the streets by ICE in the region were from Latin American countries.
• Latinos make up 66% of undocumented immigrants in the New York and New Jersey region.
• The arrests have caused fear in Latino communities.

An investigation into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) street arrests in the New York and New Jersey area has found that these operations disproportionately target Latino immigrants. The probe, which analyzed over 1,200 lawsuits, determined that 93% of immigrants apprehended by ICE during street arrests in the region hailed from Latin American countries. This statistic stands in contrast to the demographic makeup of undocumented immigrants in the same area, where Latinos constitute 66% of the population. The findings suggest a pattern where Latino individuals are targeted at a rate significantly exceeding their representation among the undocumented population in the region. The arrests have generated a climate of fear within Latino communities, impacting residents' sense of safety and security.