Recent analyses by the Texas Tribune reveal a significant shift in the operational strategies of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, particularly in Texas. The data indicates that ICE has increasingly targeted individuals who are not already in custody, which raises concerns about public safety and the potential for violent encounters.
In Houston, a city recently brought into the national spotlight due to the controversial killing of an immigrant by an ICE agent, the number of arrests made outside detention facilities has more than quadrupled. An examination of federal data shows that the average monthly arrests in public spaces and homes rose from around 150 during the Biden administration to over 640 in the first 13 months of the Trump administration. This shift is particularly alarming, as it constituted nearly a third of all ICE arrests in the city as of early March 2026, a notable increase from 16% under Biden.
Across Texas, the proportion of community arrests surged from 14% to 36% of all ICE arrests, while the nationwide increase was more modest, climbing from 34% to 43% during the same period.
Experts express concern that this shift from jail pickups to public arrests increases the likelihood of violent confrontations. This concern has been underscored by the recent shooting of 52-year-old Lozano Salgado Araujo by ICE agents in Houston.
Araujo, a father of three and a Mexican citizen who had resided in Houston for 35 years with no criminal record, was not the target of the ICE operation when agents stopped his van. His son reported that Araujo was in the process of obtaining legal residency. This incident highlights the risks posed by non-custodial arrests, which have dramatically increased under the current administration.
A review of federal immigration data showed that arrests of individuals with prior criminal convictions in Houston decreased from 61% under Biden to 39% under Trump, suggesting a shift in focus towards those who pose no immediate threat.
Overall, ICE arrests in Houston and across Texas have risen sharply, with approximately 7,100 arrests made in February 2026 alone. This figure included around 1,660 arrests in Houston, marking a significant increase from the previous year.
The data evaluated by the Tribune was sourced from the Deportation Data Project, which utilizes Freedom of Information Act requests to compile information from government agencies.
In response to the findings, the Department of Homeland Security has disputed the accuracy of the data from the Deportation Data Project, claiming it promotes a false narrative about ICE operations. Their statement emphasized that the data has not been verified by ICE or DHS.
Historically, local criminal justice systems have facilitated ICE’s operations, allowing agents to easily identify and detain undocumented immigrants. However, experts believe that a shift in strategy is necessary to align with the administration’s goals of increasing the number of daily ICE arrests. This shift targets individuals who are not typically on the radar of local law enforcement.
García-Hernández, an immigration law professor, noted that immigrants are statistically less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens, indicating a potential “mathematical limitation” for ICE. To fulfill the aggressive deportation promises made by the Trump administration, ICE may feel compelled to broaden its target base to include individuals who are not already detained.
As ICE’s focus shifts towards non-custodial arrests, immigration lawyer Paúl Pirela has expressed concerns about the heightened risk of dangerous altercations. He argues that public raids in densely populated areas increase the likelihood of mistakes and can place innocent bystanders in jeopardy.
Moreover, Pirela warns that these tactics risk exacerbating issues of racial profiling, which could lead to more violent encounters between ICE agents and community members.
The tragic case of Salgado Araujo occurred in Houston’s east end, a neighborhood predominantly inhabited by Latinos. Pirela noted that ICE’s presence and operations have increasingly targeted similar Latino communities in Harris County, reflecting a troubling trend in immigration enforcement.
With Texas being home to the second-largest population of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., it has become a focal point for the Trump administration’s ambitious deportation plans. Harris County alone has an estimated 600,000 undocumented residents, ranking it second only to Los Angeles County.
The presence of large immigrant populations in Texas urban centers makes it easier for federal agents to identify individuals for arrest. Additionally, the state’s Republican leadership has historically welcomed ICE’s operations by reducing barriers to
