Immigration prosecutions rising in San Diego region in 2025

(SAN DIEGO) Federal immigration prosecutions in San Diego and Imperial counties have surged in 2025, driven by stricter enforcement under President Trump, a tripled ICE arrest quota on May 21, 2025, and a sharper focus on low-level immigration offenses. Court and agency data show more than 3,200 immigration prosecutions from October 2024 through June 2025, putting the region on track to more than double last year’s total. The rise is reshaping the federal docket, fueling longer detention times, and pulling in thousands of people with no criminal history.

The shift is stark on the street as well as in court. ICE arrests in the San Diego region rose over 400% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, climbing from 325 to 1,339. The daily pace has jumped from about 2 arrests per day under President Biden to roughly 7 per day under President Trump. Local arrest data also show a sweeping reach: in June, 72% of ICE arrestees had no criminal charges or convictions, up from 36% in January. Nationally, people without criminal records made up 47% of daily ICE arrests in early June, up from 21% in early May. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the speed of that national increase underscores how fast field offices adjusted to the new quota.

Inside the Southern District of California, immigration prosecutions now represent about three-quarters of all new federal cases. Most filings involve illegal entry (8 U.S.C. § 1325, a misdemeanor) and illegal reentry (8 U.S.C. § 1326, a felony). Prosecutors, public defenders, and court staff describe dockets that turn over rapidly, with group hearings, heavy use of interpreters, and many plea deals in the first appearance or soon after. First-time illegal entry cases often end in time served and removal. Reentry cases can bring months in custody before deportation.

U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, a Trump appointee leading the Southern District, has framed the shift as proof that the border is more secure and that a tighter approach at the line allows his office to target cartel leaders and other threats. The Department of Homeland Security has said 70% of ICE arrests involve “criminal illegal aliens.” That claim is under dispute in San Diego, where the share of people with no criminal record has doubled this year, and where local case files show many defendants with clean histories aside from crossing the border without permission.

Critics say the new quota and charging push are sweeping up people who pose no threat while straining the system. Pedro Rios of the American Friends Service Committee in San Diego argues the plan is “quota-driven,” pointing to the large and growing share of noncriminal arrests. Former judges and legal aid groups warn that rushed hearings, patchy access to counsel, and longer detention undermine due process, especially for people seeking protection in the United States 🇺🇸.

Arrests and Cases Surge Under New Quotas

The May 21, 2025 quota order is the hinge point. After that date, ICE field teams stepped up both targeted arrests and broader sweeps, feeding a steady stream of cases to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors responded by filing illegal entry and reentry charges at a pace the district has not seen in years.

• As of June, the region had already passed 3,200 immigration prosecutions since the fiscal year began in October, outpacing the roughly 1,600 cases estimated for all of 2024.
• The shift has redirected resources away from other federal priorities such as white-collar, weapons, and drug cases.

Supporters of the enforcement increase say a firm hand at the border reduces chaos, deters repeat crossings, and frees investigators to pursue high-level cartel targets. They point to falling border crossings in some areas and the quick, predictable outcomes in entry and reentry cases as signs the plan is working.

Opponents counter that the quota is sweeping up parents with long community ties, people with medical needs, and asylum seekers. They warn that misdemeanor entry charges are a blunt tool that offers little deterrence for people fleeing danger or poverty.

How cases are flowing on the ground

A common scenario repeats daily:

1. Apprehension by CBP or ICE during a sweep, checkpoint stop, or targeted pick-up.
2. Referral for federal charges, most often under 8 U.S.C. § 1325 or § 1326.
3. Detention at a local facility while awaiting a first appearance.
4. Group hearings with interpreters, frequent plea deals, and often quick sentencing.
5. Removal for most; reentry convictions can bring longer custody before deportation.

VisaVerge.com notes that San Diego’s pattern mirrors increases in nearby border districts, but the local share of noncriminal arrests—72% in June—stands out. Advocates say that parents, workers, and asylum seekers are being caught in the net as calendars fill months in advance.

Court Strain and Community Impact

The courtroom surge collides with shrinking immigration court capacity. Multiple rounds of firings have left San Diego’s immigration courts understaffed:

• Only eight judges in the main courts (as of July 2025).
• Three judges at the Otay Mesa Detention Center (as of July 2025).
• Nationwide backlog nearing 4 million cases; Congress funded up to 800 positions, according to the judges’ union.

Consequences of this mismatch include:

• Hearings scheduled years out—some as far as 2029.
• Longer detention times as cases pile up.
• Families waiting longer to know if a parent will be deported.
• People with strong legal claims sitting in custody without a timely chance to present their cases.
• Diminished ability for detained clients to gather documents, reach witnesses, or secure counsel.

Faith groups and community organizations report increased requests for assistance with childcare, rent, and food when a breadwinner is detained for weeks or months.

Effect on federal workload and public safety

When about 75% of new cases in the Southern District are immigration prosecutions, the prosecution pipeline directs most line agents, prosecutors, and court staff to these files. That has two competing narratives:

• Critics say decreased attention to white-collar and gun cases could harm public safety.
• Supporters argue that border certainty enables investigators to pursue larger criminal organizations and improves overall safety.

Both sides acknowledge that if the current pace continues through the end of 2025, the justice system will be tested.

Practical Guidance and Resources

With the court system strained, many people opt for quick pleas to exit custody sooner. Advocates urge people who fear harm in their home country to:

• Speak up early and ask for a lawyer.
• Gather key documents before court dates: IDs, proof of residence, medical records, and any evidence supporting protection claims.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review provides official information about immigration courts, case status tools, and law library materials that can help people follow their cases.

What’s at Stake

Supporters of the crackdown argue that higher immigration prosecutions cut repeat crossings and send a clear message: entering the country without permission leads to federal charges. Opponents say the policy falls short for people fleeing danger and that the human and fiscal costs—packed jails, overwhelmed courts, and separated families—are significant.

Key uncertainties moving forward:

• Hiring and seating new judges could reduce detention times and backlogs.
• If no new judges are added quickly, hearing delays and jail stays will likely increase.
• On Capitol Hill, lawmakers debate enforcement funding and court resources, but no major changes were scheduled as of late August.

The stakes are personal. A father with no criminal record, picked up on his way to work, may face a misdemeanor and removal in days. A mother with a prior deportation could face a felony reentry case and months in detention while her children wait. A teenager fleeing danger may have a strong asylum claim yet struggle to find counsel in time.

As ICE arrests remain high and immigration prosecutions dominate the docket, San Diego’s courts will continue to absorb pressure—and families across San Diego will keep bracing for the knock at the door.