Despite Trump Pledge, Nevada ICE Arrests of Non-Convicts Increase

Nevada ICE arrests of people with no criminal convictions go up despite Trump admin pledge – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)

Las Vegas – Federal agents in Nevada have arrested more people without criminal convictions in recent weeks, even after a top White House official pledged in late January to prioritize serious offenders. The shift follows a broader pattern that began when President Donald Trump returned to office. Data released this spring by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, shows the change in clear numbers.

Arrest Totals Rise Across the State

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained roughly 3,300 people in Nevada during the first 14 months of the current administration. That figure exceeds the total from the same period under former President Joe Biden by about 2,000. It also surpasses the corresponding stretch of Trump’s first term by roughly 500.

Most of those taken into custody had no criminal conviction on record. The share reached about 60 percent statewide, a marked increase from the final 15 months of the Biden administration when the figure stood near 23 percent. Nevada still ranks among states with lower overall shares of such arrests, yet the recent uptick has brought local rates closer to the national average.

Pending Charges and Misdemeanor Cases Drive the Trend

Arrests of individuals facing pending criminal charges have grown noticeably since Trump took office. At the same time, among those with convictions, the most serious offense proved to be a misdemeanor in 60 percent of cases. That rate exceeds the level seen in the prior administration and places Nevada 15th highest nationally.

After the January pledge to focus on public safety threats, the proportion of felony convictions among those arrested dipped slightly while the misdemeanor share held steady. Nearly all individuals detained during both the Trump and Biden periods carried no gang-related suspicions, according to the records.

Local Experts Question Fairness of the Approach

Michael Kagan, director of the UNLV Immigration Clinic, said the practice of arresting people with pending charges but no convictions undercuts basic legal protections. He pointed to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s agreement to notify ICE about immigrants booked into local jails, which he described as creating a two-track system of justice.

“There is no innocence until proven guilty,” Kagan said. “For immigrants, they are just presumed guilty and taken away.” He added that enforcement actions often involve allegations of misdemeanors rather than serious violence or gang activity, leaving families separated without a chance to appear in court.

Detention Rules Ease After Months of Strict Policy

Until early April, federal authorities in Nevada held nearly everyone facing deportation with little chance to request bond. Immigration specialists noted that the approach kept more people in custody and warned that its reversal could free hundreds from detention centers.

The data covers ICE activity in Nevada from October 2022 through mid-March 2026 and comes from public records compiled by the Deportation Data Project. Officials have continued to describe enforcement as aimed at the “worst of the worst,” yet records show 22 arrests for sexual assault convictions and 18 for molestation of a minor since the start of the term.