Since Donald Trump returned to the presidency in January 2025, arrests carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in North Carolina have skyrocketed.
Between January and June of this year, ICE detained 1,661 people in the state, according to data from the Deportation Data Project obtained directly from ICE through a court order.
During the same period last year, under President Joe Biden’s administration, the number of ICE arrests in North Carolina was significantly lower: 665 people. This represents a 149.8% increase since Trump regained control of the White House, marking a clear shift in the country’s immigration policy.
ICE Arrests in North Carolina: Fewer Than Half Have a Criminal Conviction
Of the 1,661 people detained by ICE so far in 2025 in North Carolina, only 798 had a criminal conviction at the time of arrest—just 48% of the total.
This means that 52% of those detained this year had no criminal convictions. Furthermore, among those with convictions, many were for minor offenses such as traffic violations or nonviolent infractions.
In contrast, during the same period in 2024, 68% of those arrested had criminal records, suggesting a shift in ICE’s enforcement priorities.
This trend reflects a broader national pattern, where most people detained by ICE do not have criminal histories.
Counties With the Most Arrests
Arrests were not evenly distributed across the state. Mecklenburg County topped the list by a wide margin, with 436 ICE arrests in the first six months of the year. It was followed by Wake County with 98 arrests and Cabarrus County with 71. Other counties with significant numbers include Union (52), New Hanover (45), Johnston (27), Harnett (21), Durham (15), Forsyth (14), and Moore (9).
However, in 843 cases, the specific location of the arrest is unclear—marked as “unspecified,” “unclassified,” or left blank.
The Vast Majority of ICE Arrests in North Carolina Target People From Latin America
The data also show that most people detained by ICE in North Carolina between January and June of this year are from Latin America.
Mexico leads the list with 785 detainees, followed by Honduras (290), Guatemala (167), El Salvador (98), Venezuela (95), Nicaragua (53), Colombia (37), and Ecuador (19). In other words, the top eight countries represented are all in Latin America.
Profile of Detainees: Young Men of Working Age
The profile of those detained in 2025 shows that the majority are young men.
Men account for 92% of arrests, while women make up only 7%.
The average age is 35.4. The most affected age group is 25 to 34, with 610 arrests. They are followed by the 35 to 44 group (502 people) and 45 to 54 (259). There were also 219 arrests of individuals aged 18 to 24, 45 between ages 55 and 64, and 12 cases involving people over 65.
PODCAST
Después de la tormenta
Hace un año, el huracán Helene golpeó al oeste de Carolina del Norte. La comunidad latina respondió con algo más fuerte que la tormenta: solidaridad.
🎧 En este episodio, conoce cómo las organizaciones latinas transformaron la crisis en resiliencia.
▶️ ¡Dale play para escuchar!
Republique gratuitamente nuestras historias en su website o periódico. Seguimos la licencia de Creative Commons. Dele clic al recuadro, y siga las instrucciones.
