Drive-by Detention: 800 New Yorkers Swept Up in ‘Collateral’ ICE Arrests

Since August 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have swept through New York City, arresting 811 immigrants in what the agency refers to as “collateral” detentions. These arrests occur when agents target individuals for deportation but mistakenly apprehend someone else at the scene, often with no criminal history. According to newly obtained ICE data, 85% of these collateral arrests involved individuals with no criminal record, raising concerns about the agency’s enforcement practices and the impact on innocent people.

The phenomenon of collateral arrests has been highlighted in several high-profile cases reported by THE CITY. One such case involved a 28-year-old construction worker in Corona, Queens, who was arrested on his way to work after ICE agents claimed they were looking for his neighbor. Despite the agency’s assertions that it focuses on arresting the most dangerous individuals, the data reveals that collateral arrests accounted for 24% of all ICE arrests in New York City from August 2025 through March 10.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, has previously stated that the agency is dedicated to targeting the “worst of the worst.” However, the ICE arrest data analyzed by THE CITY shows that out of the 2,491 people arrested in New York City since August, 73% had no criminal convictions or pending charges. This discrepancy between ICE’s stated goals and the actual arrest patterns raises questions about the effectiveness and fairness of the agency’s operations.

The ICE arrest data, obtained by the Deportation Data Project through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, includes ICE’s own determination of whether a person was detained as part of a “targeted” operation or as a collateral arrest. While the data does not provide detailed information about the circumstances of each arrest, many of the targeted arrests have taken place at ICE check-ins and immigration court. Agents have been known to carry lists of names and stake out hearings to detain immigrants since last year.

When asked about the latest ICE arrest data, an unnamed spokesperson for the agency disputed its own records, claiming that the story only reveals how the media manipulates data to create a false narrative that DHS is not targeting the worst of the worst. The spokesperson pointed to photos of immigrants convicted of crimes that ICE has arrested, attempting to deflect attention from the broader trends in the data.

The collateral arrests have had a significant impact on the lives of the individuals affected, as well as their families and communities. Many of those detained have been separated from their loved ones, faced uncertainty about their future, and experienced the trauma of being targeted by ICE agents. The high percentage of collateral arrests with no criminal history raises concerns about the agency’s enforcement strategies and the potential for innocent people to be swept up in its operations.

As the debate over immigration policy continues, the latest ICE arrest data serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of these policies. It highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in how ICE conducts its operations and the importance of ensuring that the agency’s actions are focused on the most dangerous individuals, rather than innocent bystanders. The story of the 811 collateral arrests in New York City underscores the urgent need for reform and a more targeted approach to immigration enforcement.