How Often Does ICE Take Enforcement Actions Against U.S. Citizens?
There have been plenty of changes that have taken place in the United States since 2025 started and a new administration took the reins of power. One most notable difference from the last administration is the effort to close the border and remove individuals who came into the interior and are illegally residing in the country. In the first 100 days of the Trump administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported arresting over 66,000 illegal aliens and successfully removing more than 65,000. ICE indicates that many were criminals who were a threat to public safety and national security.
While ICE maintains that its focus is finding criminal aliens who are the most significant public safety risk, and specifically prioritizing the worst criminals first, some innocent American citizens are getting harassed and arrested in the enforcement raids.
If an ICE official unlawfully harmed you and would like to have your case reviewed by a legal professional, you are welcome to call our civil rights attorney at Monaco Law PC.
When Americans Are Unfairly Mistreated by ICE
ICE has been tasked with the job of finding criminal illegal aliens, detaining them, and ultimately having them removed from the country. A significant amount of support for these actions exists in the United States, just as there is strong opposition to aggressive ICE enforcement. Regardless, when U.S. citizens are harassed, assaulted, and unlawfully detained by ICE, it may be feasible to say that most Americans could come together and agree this type of government overreach is unacceptable.
There are cases where ICE mistakenly came after a person in the country that they believed was illegal, only to later find that the individual was actually a U.S. citizen. However, the extent of the problem remains unknown. This is because a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicates that ICE doesn’t know how many instances exist of officers taking enforcement actions against U.S. citizens. However, from 2015 through 2020, the GAO details that 674 potential U.S. citizens were arrested, with 121 potential citizens detained. Further, as many as 70 potential U.S. citizens were deported.
Troubling numbers like these make it clear that ICE officials need increased and better training. Specifically, ICE agents should know how to effectively and accurately verify the citizenship of individuals they arrest and detain.
Speak to a New Jersey and Pennsylvania Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Attorney Today
You may have a legal case to make if you were harassed unfairly and unlawfully by ICE as a U.S. citizen. For more information on what to do and if you can file a civil claim for compensation, please call our South Jersey personal injury lawyer at Monaco Law PC at (609) 277-3166 for our New Jersey office and (215) 546-3166 for our Pennsylvania office to discuss your case today.
We are a New Jersey and Pennsylvania personal injury law firm serving Atlantic County, Bucks County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Camden County, Chester County, Cumberland County, Delaware County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia, Ocean County, Salem County, Susquehanna County and all of New Jersey.
