SAN DIEGO (KGTV)-- Despite a reportindicating a large spike in the arrests of illegal immigrants without criminal records nationwide since President Donald Trump took office in January, San Diego has actually seen a decrease in the number of otherwise law-abiding citizens being arrested by immigration agents.
That's according to Lauren Mack with San Diego's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.
The overall number of ICE immigration arrests in San Diego and Imperial counties slightly decreased, however the number of immigration arrests of those with criminal backgrounds increased 34.7 percent.
Local ICE agents arrested 430 individuals with criminal records locally from January 20, 2017 through March 13, 2017. For the same time period last year, 319 people with criminal records had been arrested.
ICE also reported a decrease in non-criminal arrests this year when compared to the year prior in San Diego and Imperial counties:
- 168 individuals without criminal records were arrested from January 20, 2017 - March 13, 2017.
- 292 individuals without criminal records were arrested from January 20, 2016 - March 13, 2016.
This comparison allows a glimpse into how the Trump Administration, with newly empowered federal agents, has impacted the San Diego area. The percent decrease in overall immigration arrests is two percent.
Additionally, the Washington Post's report indicating the biggest spike reported in the arrests of immigrants without criminal records, that number has actually gone down locally.
Sandy Coronilla is a KGTV digital producer. Follow her @10NewsSandy
