2026
Ong, Paul; Ong, Jonathan; Pech, Chhandara
The “Worst of the Worst” Pretext: ICE Arrest Patterns Under Trump Technical Report
2026.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deportation, ICE, immigration, immigration enforcement, trump administration
@techreport{nokey,
title = {The “Worst of the Worst” Pretext: ICE Arrest Patterns Under Trump},
author = {Paul Ong and Jonathan Ong and Chhandara Pech},
url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/UCLA_CNK_Worst_of_the_Worst_ICE_Arrest_Patterns_Under_Trump_May2026.pdf},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-05-19},
urldate = {2026-05-19},
abstract = {This brief examines whether the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement practices aligns with its repeated claims of targeting the “worst of the worst.” Using ICE arrest data from January 2024 through February 2026, the analysis finds that while overall arrests increased substantially under Trump, the share involving individuals classified as the most serious public-safety threats declined sharply. Instead, ICE increasingly targeted immigrants with no criminal conviction, no pending charges, and no identified gang affiliation, alongside a rise in aggressive at-large arrests conducted in community settings.},
keywords = {deportation, ICE, immigration, immigration enforcement, trump administration},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
This brief examines whether the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement practices aligns with its repeated claims of targeting the “worst of the worst.” Using ICE arrest data from January 2024 through February 2026, the analysis finds that while overall arrests increased substantially under Trump, the share involving individuals classified as the most serious public-safety threats declined sharply. Instead, ICE increasingly targeted immigrants with no criminal conviction, no pending charges, and no identified gang affiliation, alongside a rise in aggressive at-large arrests conducted in community settings.
Ong, Paul; Ong, Jonathan; Diaz, Sonja
Latino ICE Detentions Dramatically Reshaped Under Trump Technical Report
2026.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deportation, detention, ICE, ICE arrests, ICE detention, immigration, immigration enforcement, latinos, racial profiling, trump administration
@techreport{nokey,
title = {Latino ICE Detentions Dramatically Reshaped Under Trump},
author = {Paul Ong and Jonathan Ong and Sonja Diaz },
url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/UCLA_CNK_Unseen_Latino_ICE_Detentions_Dramatically_Reshaped_Under_Trump_Jan2026.pdf},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-20},
urldate = {2026-01-20},
abstract = {Produced in collaboration with Unseen, this brief examines how immigration detention practices under President Trump’s second administration have reshaped the experiences of Latino immigrants. The analysis finds that detentions increasingly targeted noncriminal, law-abiding Latinos, with sharp increases in detention length, transfers between facilities, and out-of-state confinement. The findings raise serious concerns about due process, family separation, and the broader social and economic impacts of expanded detention policies.},
keywords = {deportation, detention, ICE, ICE arrests, ICE detention, immigration, immigration enforcement, latinos, racial profiling, trump administration},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Produced in collaboration with Unseen, this brief examines how immigration detention practices under President Trump’s second administration have reshaped the experiences of Latino immigrants. The analysis finds that detentions increasingly targeted noncriminal, law-abiding Latinos, with sharp increases in detention length, transfers between facilities, and out-of-state confinement. The findings raise serious concerns about due process, family separation, and the broader social and economic impacts of expanded detention policies.
2025
Paul; Ong Ong, Jonathan
Asian ICE Removals Technical Report
2025.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: aapi, asian, Asian Americans, ICE arrests, immigration, immigration enforcement
@techreport{nokey,
title = {Asian ICE Removals},
author = {Ong, Paul; Ong, Jonathan
},
url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/UCLA_CNK_AASC_Asian_ICE_Removals_Dec2025.pdf
},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-12-01},
urldate = {2025-12-01},
abstract = {This brief examines the third component of the deportation process, which is removals. Removal refers to the
mandatory departure of a noncitizen from the United States, usually occurring after all avenues of appeal have
been exhausted. We find that the number of Asians removed was one and a half times more during the first six
months of the Trump administration (February to July 2025) than during the period from February to July 2024
(the latter part of the Biden administration). },
keywords = {aapi, asian, Asian Americans, ICE arrests, immigration, immigration enforcement},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
This brief examines the third component of the deportation process, which is removals. Removal refers to the
mandatory departure of a noncitizen from the United States, usually occurring after all avenues of appeal have
been exhausted. We find that the number of Asians removed was one and a half times more during the first six
months of the Trump administration (February to July 2025) than during the period from February to July 2024
(the latter part of the Biden administration).
mandatory departure of a noncitizen from the United States, usually occurring after all avenues of appeal have
been exhausted. We find that the number of Asians removed was one and a half times more during the first six
months of the Trump administration (February to July 2025) than during the period from February to July 2024
(the latter part of the Biden administration).
Paul; Ong Ong, Jonathan; Diaz
Latino ICE Arrests Surge Under Trump Technical Report
2025.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: ICE, ICE arrests, immigration, immigration enforcement, latinos, trump administration
@techreport{nokey,
title = {Latino ICE Arrests Surge Under Trump},
author = {Ong, Paul; Ong, Jonathan; Diaz, Sonja; Chinchilla Melissa},
url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Unseen_Latino-Ice-Arrests-Surge-Under-Trump_20251027.pdf},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-10-01},
urldate = {2025-10-01},
abstract = {This brief highlights how Latino ICE arrests surged under Trump, with Latinos comprising the vast majority of those detained. The findings underscore a shift toward broader enforcement practices and the human toll of increasingly aggressive immigration policies.},
keywords = {ICE, ICE arrests, immigration, immigration enforcement, latinos, trump administration},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
This brief highlights how Latino ICE arrests surged under Trump, with Latinos comprising the vast majority of those detained. The findings underscore a shift toward broader enforcement practices and the human toll of increasingly aggressive immigration policies.
Ong, Paul; Ong, Jonathan
ICE Arrests in California and Texas: Polarized Politics and Outcomes Technical Report
2025.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: california, enforcement, ICE, ICE arrests, immigration, texas
@techreport{nokey,
title = {ICE Arrests in California and Texas: Polarized Politics and Outcomes},
author = {Paul Ong and Jonathan Ong},
url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/UCLA_CNK_ICE_Arrests_CA_TX_Sept2025.pdf},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-09-24},
urldate = {2025-09-24},
abstract = {A comparative analysis of ICE arrests in California and Texas shows starkly different outcomes. Despite California having more potential targets, arrest rates in Texas were three to four times higher, driven by state cooperation with ICE and partisan politics.},
keywords = {california, enforcement, ICE, ICE arrests, immigration, texas},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
A comparative analysis of ICE arrests in California and Texas shows starkly different outcomes. Despite California having more potential targets, arrest rates in Texas were three to four times higher, driven by state cooperation with ICE and partisan politics.
Ong, Paul; Ong, Jonathan
ICE Detention of Asians: Increased Numbers and Hardships Under Trump Technical Report
2025.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: asian, enforcement, ICE, ICE arrests, immigration
@techreport{nokey,
title = {ICE Detention of Asians: Increased Numbers and Hardships Under Trump},
author = {Paul Ong and Jonathan Ong},
url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/UCLA_CNK_AASC_ICE_Detention_Asians_Sept2025.pdf},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-09-24},
urldate = {2025-09-24},
abstract = {This brief highlights how Asian ICE detentions more than tripled under Trump, with rising hardships among detainees. Findings underscore the human toll of aggressive deportation policies.},
keywords = {asian, enforcement, ICE, ICE arrests, immigration},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
This brief highlights how Asian ICE detentions more than tripled under Trump, with rising hardships among detainees. Findings underscore the human toll of aggressive deportation policies.
Ong, Paul; Ong, Jonathan; Pech, Chhandara
State Variations in ICE Arrests Following the 2024 Election Technical Report
2025.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: enforcement, ICE, ICE arrests, immigration, racial bias
@techreport{nokey,
title = {State Variations in ICE Arrests Following the 2024 Election},
author = {Paul Ong and Jonathan Ong and Chhandara Pech},
url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UCLA_CNK_State_Variations_in_ICE_Arrests_July2025.pdf},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-30},
urldate = {2025-07-30},
abstract = {This brief examines why ICE arrest rates varied so dramatically across U.S. states in early 2025. The findings reveal that states with stronger support for the 2024 Trump campaign and larger proportions of Latino non-citizens experienced significantly higher arrest rates. These patterns suggest disproportionate impacts along ethnic lines, raising concerns about political and racial bias in immigration enforcement.},
keywords = {enforcement, ICE, ICE arrests, immigration, racial bias},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
This brief examines why ICE arrest rates varied so dramatically across U.S. states in early 2025. The findings reveal that states with stronger support for the 2024 Trump campaign and larger proportions of Latino non-citizens experienced significantly higher arrest rates. These patterns suggest disproportionate impacts along ethnic lines, raising concerns about political and racial bias in immigration enforcement.
Ong, Paul; Ong, Jonathan
ICE Arrests of Asians Tripled from 2024 to 2025 Technical Report
2025.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: asian, enforcement, ICE, ICE arrests, immigration
@techreport{nokey,
title = {ICE Arrests of Asians Tripled from 2024 to 2025},
author = {Paul Ong and Jonathan Ong},
url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/UCLA_CNK_AASC_ICE_Arrests_Asians_July2025.pdf},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-29},
urldate = {2025-07-29},
abstract = {ICE arrests of Asians nearly tripled from 2024 to 2025. Produced jointly with UCLA AASC, this brief documents disproportionate impacts on Asian communities, raising concerns about racial bias in enforcement.},
keywords = {asian, enforcement, ICE, ICE arrests, immigration},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
ICE arrests of Asians nearly tripled from 2024 to 2025. Produced jointly with UCLA AASC, this brief documents disproportionate impacts on Asian communities, raising concerns about racial bias in enforcement.