92% of Detentions Aren’t Criminals: Who Is ICE Really Arresting?

Are ICE arrests really targeting dangerous criminals — or is the reality far more complicated? Michael is joined by Dr. Austin Kocher, professor at Syracuse University and one of the leading analysts of U.S. immigration enforcement data, to break down what the numbers actually show. According to ICE’s own statistics, 92% of recent detention growth involves people with no criminal convictions — a finding that sharply contrasts with the administration’s public rhetoric. They examine how ICE enforcement has changed across administrations, why deportations under Obama were quieter but larger, how Trump successfully slowed border crossings, and why detention operations are now sweeping up long-term, law-abiding immigrants — including workers, parents, and spouses of U.S. citizens. Original air date 2 February 2026.