DHS Accused Of Inflating ICE Arrest Numbers Under Biden

Department of Homeland Security officials reveal that the Biden administration dramatically inflated ICE arrest statistics by counting illegal immigrants who were caught and released rather than those who were actually detained and deported.

Key Takeaways

A senior ICE official claims that over two-thirds of arrests recorded during the Biden administration were “enforcement theater,” with illegal immigrants quickly released back into communities.
Under President Trump, ICE recorded 32,809 interior arrests from January 20 to March 10, 2025, nearly matching the entire 2024 total when excluding “pass-through” arrests.
ICE interior arrests more than doubled from 234 per day under Biden to 632 per day under President Trump, with a significant increase in arrests of gang members and suspected terrorists.
The directive to count “pass-through” arrests reportedly came directly from the Biden administration’s Homeland Security Department leadership.
Border crossings have decreased significantly, with unauthorized entries dropping from over 60,000 in January to 11,709 in February.

Misleading Statistics Exposed By DHS Officials

Homeland Security Department officials have accused the Biden administration of deliberately manipulating immigration enforcement statistics. According to multiple sources within the agency, the previous administration artificially inflated ICE arrest numbers by counting illegal immigrants who were caught and immediately released rather than focusing on meaningful detentions and deportations. This practice has created a false impression of enforcement activity that masked a significantly less aggressive approach to immigration control than what official numbers suggested.

Todd Lyons, acting director at ICE, stated that many cases were recorded as arrests without any actual immigration enforcement action taking place. “We found tens of thousands of cases that were recorded as arrests when, in fact, these instances were illegal aliens that were simply processed and released into American communities,” Lyons explained, highlighting how the statistical manipulation created a skewed picture of enforcement efforts.

BREAKING: Senior ICE and DHS officials just held a background call w/ reporters. Highlights below, per these officials:

Trump administration ICE interior arrests of illegal aliens inside the US has already surpassed all of Biden's ICE interior arrests in all of Fiscal Year 2024.…

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 12, 2025

The “Pass-Through” Arrest Strategy

A senior ICE official revealed that more than two-thirds of the arrests recorded during the previous administration were what they termed “enforcement theater.” These “pass-through” arrests involved briefly processing illegal immigrants before releasing them into American communities, rather than detaining and deporting them. The directive to count these encounters as arrests reportedly came directly from the Biden administration’s Homeland Security Department leadership in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to artificially inflate enforcement numbers.

“This gave them a pathway to establishing a long-term … residency here in the U.S,” an official said.

These misleading statistics served multiple purposes beyond political optics. According to DHS officials, pass-through arrests provided illegal immigrants documentation showing they were in a legal process, qualifying them for various services and potentially aiding their long-term residency claims. This system created a paper trail that could later be used to establish presence in the United States for future immigration proceedings or benefits applications.

Trump Administration’s Enforcement Results

The current administration’s immigration enforcement efforts present a stark contrast to the previous approach. ICE recorded 32,809 interior arrests from January 20 to March 10, 2025, nearly matching the total for all of 2024 when excluding the controversial “pass-through” arrests. Among these arrests were 1,155 known or suspected gang members and 39 known or suspected terrorists, nearly three times the rate under the Biden administration, according to DHS officials.

“This victory at our borders makes the past four years even more of a tragedy,” said Rep. Mark Green.

ICE’s interior arrests have more than doubled from an average of 234 per day under the previous administration to 632 per day under President Trump. Currently, ICE is holding 47,600 migrants in detention, with officials stating they are “maxed out” at current capacity levels. Customs and Border Protection has reported a significant decrease in unauthorized migrants entering from Mexico, with numbers dropping from over 60,000 in January to 11,709 in February. The number of unaccompanied minors and family migrants has also declined substantially during this period.

Congressional Response to Revelations

The revelations about statistical manipulation have prompted strong reactions from congressional representatives. Rep. Mark Green criticized the previous administration’s approach, citing the deaths of Laken Riley and Kayla Hamilton as tragic consequences of catch-and-release policies. Green suggested that the dramatic drop in border crossings since President Trump took office demonstrates that stronger enforcement measures are effective at reducing illegal immigration, making the previous administration’s policies appear even more problematic in retrospect.

Despite the significant increase in enforcement activity, ICE reported deporting about 645 people daily in late February, representing a 17% decrease from the same period in 2024. Officials attribute this decline to fewer new illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border, which they consider a positive indicator that enhanced enforcement policies are acting as a deterrent rather than simply processing higher volumes of deportations.