ICE Deportations Target DACA Recipients in 2025
Between January and September 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 174 individuals who had renewed their protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, as revealed in a letter from Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to Illinois Congresswoman Delia Ramirez. The correspondence, which was reviewed by the Guardian, also noted that a total of 270 DACA recipients were arrested during the first nine months of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Confusion Over DACA Enforcement Statistics
The extent of arrests targeting DACA recipients in 2025 had been unclear, particularly after conflicting information emerged from former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in two separate letters to Congress members. The newly disclosed statistics from Lyons provide a clearer picture of the Trump administration’s approach to the DACA program, which has been a contentious issue since its establishment in 2012 by President Barack Obama.
Impact of DACA on Dreamers
The figures presented by Lyons highlight the administration’s critical stance toward a program designed to offer undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children a chance to live and work without the constant threat of deportation. DACA recipients, commonly referred to as “Dreamers,” now face an uncertain future as ongoing litigation continues to challenge the program’s legitimacy.
DACA Statistics and Legislative Response
Current data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicates that there are approximately 533,000 active Dreamers in the United States, with each recipient required to reapply for DACA protection periodically. In a statement to the Guardian, Congresswoman Ramirez characterized the deportations as part of a “white supremacist agenda” orchestrated by the Trump administration, specifically targeting its Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller.
Call for Abolishment of ICE and DHS
Ramirez’s statement condemned the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) failure to uphold DACA protections and asserted that such actions place DACA recipients at considerable risk. She emphasized that the administration’s policies lead to ongoing terror and suffering among vulnerable immigrant communities, further advocating for the abolition of ICE and dismantling of the DHS.
Recent Arrests of DACA Recipients
From late September to mid-November 2025, an additional 73 DACA recipients were arrested by ICE, raising the total number of arrests within the first 11 months of the year to at least 343. A DHS spokesperson clarified that, while DACA recipients do not possess any legal status, many of those arrested had been charged with crimes, which posed a basis for their potential deportation.
Clarification on Miscommunication
The latest correspondence from Director Lyons, dated April 7, addressed the confusion surrounding Noem’s earlier letters, attributing discrepancies to a “script issue.” He noted that the January 12 letter provided accurate figures, along with a detailed breakdown of arrests by ICE’s regional offices. As Lyons prepares for his impending retirement from ICE at the end of May, the broader implications of the Trump administration’s immigration policies continue to unfold, affecting various groups within the immigrant community.
