There’s a DHS website where you can search ICE arrests in your state

New feature launched January 22

The Department of Homeland Security announced a new search feature on January 22, 2026, for its immigration arrest database.

Users can now search by state at the agency’s website, and the feature covers all 50 states plus Washington, D. C.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the update offers “greater transparency” into immigration enforcement. The database lists immigrants arrested by ICE for various crimes.

Website launched in December 2025

The database first went live on December 8, 2025, with 10,000 entries at launch. DHS said it shows arrests made since the start of the Trump Administration.

Each entry includes photos, names, nationalities, and listed crimes.

The agency designed the site to highlight what it calls the most serious offenders among those detained by immigration officers across the country.

The Data base grew to 20,000 entries

DHS expanded the database twice after launch. The agency added 5,000 more entries on December 18, 2025, and then another 5,000 on January 12, 2026.

The total reached 20,000 entries by mid-January.

DHS called this number “a fraction” of total arrests, suggesting the database will keep growing as enforcement operations continue throughout the year.

Crimes listed on the database

DHS says the database includes people convicted of homicide, assault, rape, and drug trafficking. It also lists child molestation, battery, and armed robbery convictions.

Some entries show gang membership or terrorism ties.

The agency has used these categories to describe those featured as dangerous criminals who pose threats to public safety in American communities.

What the numbers show

DHS claims 70% of ICE arrests involve people with criminal charges or convictions. But the database represents only about 4% of total ICE arrests since January 2025.

ICE reported roughly 281,000 arrests from January through early December 2025, which means most detainees do not appear on the site. DHS says the 20,000 featured are the “worst of the worst.

Independent analysis raises questions

The Cato Institute analyzed database entries in December 2025 and found gaps between DHS claims and the actual data. Researchers found 56% of those listed lack violent crime charges or convictions.

About one quarter had only immigration, traffic, or vice charges.

Cato director David Bier called many of the offenses “minor” compared to how the administration describes them.

Broader ICE arrest data reviewed

Cato also analyzed ICE detention data from October through November 2025. The review found 73% of ICE detainees had no criminal conviction at all.

Only 5% had violent criminal convictions.

The data came from nonpublic ICE records that were leaked to researchers, giving an independent look at who immigration officers are actually detaining across the country.

Minnesota investigation findings

FOX 9 in Minnesota cross-checked state entries against prison records and found problems. At least 53 detainees were recently in federal prison before their listed arrests.

The arrest locations matched cities where federal prisons are located, including Sandstone, Rochester, and Waseca. This raised questions about whether these were community arrests or routine prison transfers.

State officials dispute federal claims

Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell directly challenged DHS over the data. His department identified 68 cases where listed “arrests” were actually routine prison transfers to ICE custody.

The DOC provided video evidence showing standard handoffs between agencies.

Schnell called the DHS numbers “propaganda designed to inflame public fear” rather than accurate reporting.

Data gaps and verification challenges

DHS has not released detailed data for independent verification of its claims. Public ICE statistics do not break down crimes by severity, making outside review difficult.

The Migration Policy Institute says the government limits access to enforcement data. FactCheck.

org noted a “lack of transparency” from the administration when reporters sought to confirm arrest details.

Administration defends database accuracy

DHS says many detainees without U.S. criminal records have foreign criminal histories that explain their inclusion.

Secretary Kristi Noem says enforcement targets the “worst of the worst” among those in the country illegally. A DHS spokesperson said the database shows “transparency and results.”

The administration has accused media outlets of “whitewashing” arrest facts in their coverage.

What happens next

DHS says it will continue updating the database with new arrests. Legal challenges to enforcement operations are ongoing in multiple states across the country.

Minnesota filed a motion seeking to end Operation Metro Surge, one of the largest enforcement actions. The debate over the accuracy of federal claims shows no signs of slowing down.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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