(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) A sharp rise in ICE arrests of people with no criminal records is reshaping daily life for many immigrants across Chicago, where community leaders say fear of immigration enforcement now rivals fear of gunfire. Data from 2025 show a steep increase in arrests of noncriminals, expanded detention, and wider use of tracking technology. Local groups report families skipping school, avoiding clinics, and staying home from public spaces because they worry a routine errand could turn into a raid.
State and national figures tell the story. In Illinois, 31% of ICE arrestees in January 2025 had no criminal charge; by June, noncriminals made up 61% of 333 arrests. Nationally, the share of noncriminals among daily ICE arrests jumped from 21% in May to 47% in early June. These trends followed a 2025 directive under President Trump that tripled ICE’s arrest quota and broadened enforcement to include those without criminal records, reversing earlier promises to focus on serious offenders.
As of September 7, 2025, ICE held 58,766 people in detention nationwide, and 70.8% (41,589) had no criminal conviction, according to regularly updated datasets. In August alone, ICE booked 32,363 people into detention, including 28,306 arrests made by ICE officers and 4,057 by CBP. The United States now faces a complex reality: higher arrest targets, more detention space, and community alarm as noncriminals are swept up in large numbers.
Surveillance and Monitoring in Chicago
Chicago is also a hub for surveillance outside of jail. The city ranks second nationally in ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program, with 19,236 people monitored as of September 6, 2025. While the total number in ATD has been falling nationwide, the agency is leaning more on physical tracking devices.
- In Chicago, ICE has prioritized ankle monitors, with 3,259 individuals tracked via ankle devices as of July 26, 2025.
- Many people are living at home but under strict check-ins and limited freedom of movement.
- Parents report planning grocery runs around curfews, and workers fear missing a GPS ping during a shift.
These conditions can mean daily life looks constrained: appointments missed, jobs lost, and constant worry about a single missed call or dropped app signal triggering a home visit.
“ICE under the Trump administration is expanding their operations and attacking our families at a rate we haven’t seen before,” said Brandon Lee, communications director at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). He noted record hotline calls and growing demand for legal help.
ICIRR reports that many new cases involve long-settled parents with U.S.-born children and no criminal history—families who hadn’t seen themselves at risk until 2025.
Federal Rationale and Advocacy Concerns
Federal officials defend the shift as part of a firm response to border strain and interior enforcement goals. They argue that broader arrests and more detention beds are necessary to enforce the law and manage case backlogs.
Advocates counter that the data show a system sweeping in many with no convictions, sometimes for minor old offenses. Legal scholars warn that this broad approach can:
- Erode trust in police,
- Make people afraid to report crime,
- Push families further into the shadows.
Policy Change and Local Fallout
The 2025 quota increase marked a clear break from past guidance. ICE also moved to expand its detention network and pressured states to add bed space.
Locally in Chicago, the policy shift is visible in:
- Door-knocks,
- Street stops near workplaces,
- Follow-up visits tied to prior addresses.
Some residents now keep curtains drawn all day and avoid school drop-offs. Others skip doctor visits or postpone care, worried any official setting could trigger a run-in with officers.
VisaVerge.com analysis says the widening net has forced community groups to refocus on basic rights education. Workshops now stress simple steps:
- Ask agents to slide a warrant under the door.
- Check whether a judge signed the warrant.
- Speak to a lawyer before answering questions.
Advocates also warn about “collateral arrests”, where officers take in other people present during a targeted visit, even if those individuals aren’t named in the operation.
Technology, Jobs and Stigma
The tech tools—ankle bracelets, phone apps like SmartLINK, and wrist devices—add stress and can affect employment:
- A construction worker lost shifts because supervisors wouldn’t allow a monitored phone on a secure site.
- Parents say ankle devices draw attention at children’s events, adding shame and worry.
Data transparency is another debate point. Community monitors and researchers say some ICE datasets lag and categories can be unclear, complicating measurement of impacts and design of aid programs. While ICE posts statistics and updates on arrests and detention, advocates argue key details about noncriminal arrests, locations, and outcomes are limited.
Community Response and “Know Your Rights” Work
Groups across Chicago are responding with a mix of legal help and practical planning.
- The Immigrant Defense Project has been updating Know Your Rights materials and tracking tactics—though its ICEwatch raids map hasn’t been refreshed since April 2022, with new tools expected later in 2025.
- Local organizers run rapid-response trainings in church basements and school gyms, often in Spanish, Polish, Arabic, and Mandarin.
- Trainings teach how to verify warrants, how to remain silent, and how to prepare family plans so children are cared for if a parent is detained.
Key practical advice frequently emphasized:
- Know your rights at home:
- Do not open the door to agents unless they present a warrant signed by a judge.
- Ask them to pass it under the door.
- If the paper is only an ICE administrative warrant, you don’t have to let them in.
- You can remain silent and ask for a lawyer.
- Keep a plan:
- Carry a rights card and emergency contacts.
- Make a childcare plan and set aside key documents so a trusted person can access them.
- Get legal help:
- Call local hotlines and legal aid groups immediately if someone is detained.
- Early action may affect bond, venue, and the chance to fight a case.
Chicago residents weigh the limits of life under monitoring. People in ATD report frequent check-ins and location tracking. Missed calls or dropped app signals can trigger home visits. Some decide to switch jobs or drop classes to meet reporting demands, even when that means less income or delayed graduation. Many noncriminals feel trapped: not in jail, but not free.
ICIRR and partner groups urge anyone picked up by ICE to contact legal help immediately. They stress that a clean record doesn’t guarantee release under current rules, but a fast response can make a difference. Families are advised to save records of U.S.-born children, medical needs, and community ties, which could support bond requests or humanitarian arguments. Results vary case by case, but judges and officers still sometimes consider family links and health issues.
Data, Oversight, and Civic Impact
For those trying to follow official information, ICE posts general arrest and detention statistics on its website. The agency has also expanded ATD programs, which include reporting by phone, in-person check-ins, and electronic devices.
Community groups caution that even “alternatives” can feel restrictive—especially when devices are visible or awkward to wear at work.
Advocates worry about a feedback loop:
- More noncriminals are arrested.
- Fear spreads through communities.
- People withdraw from public life (schools, clinics, community centers).
- Witnesses and victims don’t report crimes.
- Neighborhood safety and trust erode.
Data from ongoing trackers show Chicago remains a top city for ICE surveillance. Even as ATD totals decline nationwide, the city’s reliance on ankle bracelets has stood out. Counselors report more clients asking whether they can switch to less visible tools; in many cases, that choice rests with ICE officers.
Some detainees are transferred far from home, making family visits and legal meetings harder—factors that can shape outcomes such as the ability to collect evidence and attend hearings.
Illinois lawmakers and city officials face growing calls for transparency and support. While immigration enforcement is federal, local policy choices—like funding legal defense or limiting cooperation—can affect daily outcomes. Community leaders ask that city agencies avoid sharing sensitive data that could fuel enforcement and request that schools and clinics post clear policies on privacy and access.
What’s Next
The months ahead may bring more expansion. ICE is seeking additional detention space and could adjust arrest targets depending on funding and policy decisions. Advocacy groups are preparing new legal strategies and updated guides for late 2025.
In the meantime, families adjust routines: a mother in Little Village described driving different routes each day, and a high school senior in Albany Park said he skips late practices to avoid traveling after sunset.
For people who want to check official statistics or learn about ATD basics, visit ICE’s page for data and updates at ICE statistics. Community organizers also point to public data aggregations that chart arrests, detention counts, and ATD enrollments over time. Those trackers suggest that noncriminals now make up a large share of the system—a shift that has real consequences for Chicago’s daily life.
If you or someone you know needs help or training, these resources are recommended:
- Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (hotline): (855) 435-7693 — resources at icirr.org
- Immigrant Defense Project Know Your Rights pages: immdefense.org/kyr
- Deportation Data Project (enforcement data and trend summaries): Deportation Data Project
Community groups say one message matters most: being a noncitizen with no criminal record does not mean you’re safe from ICE arrests in 2025. With quotas higher and detention larger, immigrants who have lived in Chicago for years—often parents and long-time workers—face sudden encounters with officers. Staying informed, keeping documents ready, and reaching out for help quickly can change outcomes, even in a system that feels stacked against noncriminals.
This Article in a Nutshell
In 2025 ICE significantly increased interior enforcement, leading to a sharp rise in arrests of people with no criminal records. Illinois saw noncriminal arrestees jump from 31% in January to 61% of 333 arrests by June. Nationally, noncriminals rose from 21% in May to 47% in early June. By September 7, 2025, ICE detained 58,766 people, of whom 70.8% had no criminal conviction. Chicago emerged as a major center for Alternatives to Detention (ATD), with 19,236 monitored and widespread use of ankle monitors (3,259 tracked as of July 26). The shift has caused families to avoid schools, clinics, and public spaces; community groups expanded Know Your Rights trainings and legal hotlines. Advocates warn the policy erodes trust in law enforcement, harms reporting of crimes, and disrupts employment and schooling. Officials cite border strain and case backlogs as rationale; advocates call for transparency, oversight, and expanded legal support. Ongoing trackers and community organisations recommend quick legal contact when arrests occur and preserving documentation of family ties and medical needs to support bond or humanitarian arguments.
