This fact sheet summarizes important changes in immigration policies and enforcement measures highlighted in AILA’s (American Immigration Lawyers Association) recent report titled “Americans Want Safe Communities, Not a Dangerous and Costly Deportation Agenda.”

1. Major Expansion of ICE Funding and Immigration Enforcement Operations

The Trump administration significantly increased immigration enforcement operations through an expansion of ICE’s budget under the law known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).” The bill grants ICE an additional $75 billion on top its standard annual budget. This massive funding injection allocates:

  • $45 billion for new detention facilities and the expansion of family detention centers
  • $30 billion is earmarked to hire 10,000 additional agents, onboard more attorneys, and aggressively expand deportation operations.
  • huge expansion of ICE’s detention capacity to approximately 125,000 beds nationwide.
2. Increase in Detentions and Deportation Operations

The Trump administration significantly expanded immigration enforcement operations across the country, resulting in the following reported impacts:

  • large-scale ICE operations in cities like Minneapolis and Chicago.
  • more than 14,000 deportation flights carried out during the first year.
  • each individual deportation costs approximately $17,121 per case, according to the government’s own estimates.
3. Increase in Enforcement Actions Against People Without Serious Criminal Histories

The report states that immigration authorities are increasingly targeting individuals without significant criminal records, such as: refugees, immigrants with legal status, individuals with valid work permits, and minors eligible for permanent residency.
Other highlights from the AILA report:

  • Approximately 73% of people detained by ICE had no criminal convictions.
  • About 40% of ICE arrests involved people with no criminal history at all.
  • Less than 14% of detainees had charges or convictions related to violent crimes.
4. Review of Previously Approved Immigration Benefits

The Trump administration allegedly expanded the review and monitoring of previously approved immigration cases through policies that require the re-evaluation of visas, naturalizations, work permits, and other immigration benefits. The report warns that these actions could impact millions of pending applications as well as individuals currently holding valid work authorization.

5. Expansion of Detention Practices Without Due Process

The report criticizes the expanded use of immigration detention, noting that ICE allegedly detained individuals without bond hearings, sufficient legal justification, or in direct violation of court orders. Since October 2025, federal judges have reportedly determined thousands of times that specific ICE detentions were unlawful.

6. Operations in Sensitive Locations

The report expresses concern regarding immigration enforcement operations conducted near churches, schools, and community spaces. AILA recommendations in the report include: prohibiting enforcement actions in such sensitive locations; requiring judicial warrants for arrests and home entries; and implementing measures to limit racial profiling.

7. Diversion of Resources From Other Federal Agencies

The report argues that immigration enforcement priorities have diverted federal resources previously dedicated to investigating drug trafficking, combating terrorism, and addressing violent crimes. This shift is illustrated by the reassignment of personnel from key agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

8. Public and Political Concern

The report cites polling data reflecting significant public concern over current immigration enforcement strategies, noting that 65% of Americans reportedly disapprove of ICE’s enforcement methods and 62% believe these measures actually reduce public safety.

Conclusion

In summary, the AILA report suggests that the current administration’s immigration strategy prioritizes a vast and expensive deportation agenda over traditional public safety and due process. By shifting federal resources away from criminal investigations and targeting individuals with legal status or clean records, these policies have drawn significant legal challenges and widespread disapproval from the American public. The AILA ultimately advocates for a return to more focused enforcement policies that adhere to constitutional protections.
Source: American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Policy Brief: Americans Want Safe Communities, Not a Dangerous and Costly Deportation Agenda (March 11, 2026). Link to Report.