ICE releases fiscal year 2023 annual report

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today released the fiscal year 2023 (FY 2023) annual report, which highlights the agency’s primary mission areas of interior immigration enforcement and combatting transnational crime. ICE simultaneously launched its first ever online statistical dashboard for increased transparency into the agency’s operations.

This year, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) nearly doubled immigration enforcement arrests and increased removals for those with no legal basis to remain in the country from the totals cited in last year’s report. ICE ERO’s 142,580 removals and 62,545 Title 42 expulsions to more than 170 countries worldwide in Fiscal Year 2023 reflect increased capacity and agreements to conduct removals and returns – particularly after the lifting of the Title 42 public health emergency on May 12. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) continued to lead efforts to disrupt the fentanyl supply chain and precursor chemicals with the seizure of 1.2 million pounds of narcotics, as well as identifying and assisting 1,806 victims of child exploitation, furthering one of the new enduring missions of the Department of Homeland Security.

“ICE continues to disrupt transnational criminal organizations, remove threats to national security and public safety, uphold the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and collaborate with colleagues across government and law enforcement in pursuit of our mission to keep U.S. communities safe,” said Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Patrick J. Lechleitner. “I am proud of the efforts of our more than 20,000-strong workforce who work every day to achieve their mission while also assisting homeland security and law enforcement partners with integrity, courage and excellence.”

In FY 2023, ICE provided significant support for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Southwest Border response, providing air and ground transportation and deploying logistical support to border operations. ERO deployed more than 1,300 employees to support DHS efforts to manage irregular migration. In support of Operation Expanded Impact (OEI), a DHS-wide initiative targeting Southwest Border TCOs involved in human smuggling activity, HSI dedicated additional resources and deployed more than 1,000 rotational special agents to domestic offices along the Southwest Border and 300 to international locations. OEI efforts on HSI’s behalf resulted in over 800 disruptions to illicit activity, 14,000 noncitizen apprehensions, 1,900 criminal arrests, and the seizure of $5 million in assets and property.

Complementing the FY 2023 annual report, today ICE launched its first ever online statistical dashboard, which provides a holistic and historic look at enforcement data. The interactive dashboard tracks ERO arrests, detention, and removals, as well as enrollments into the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program. The data is searchable nationwide or by ERO’s 25 field offices and will be updated quarterly. This new resource demonstrates ICE’s commitment to transparency and openness, in alignment with Secretary Mayorkas’ priorities for the Department.

Enforcement and Removal Operations

ERO conducted 170,590 administrative arrests in FY 2023, representing a 19.5% increase over the previous year.

ERO arrested 73,822 noncitizens with a criminal history; those arrested had an average of 4 charges and convictions per individual, including more than 33,209 charges or convictions for assault, 7,520 for weapons offenses, 1,713 for homicide-related offenses, and 1,655 for kidnapping. Removals also included 3,406 known or suspected gang members, 139 known or suspected terrorists, seven human rights violators, and 108 foreign fugitives wanted by their governments for crimes including homicide, rape, terrorism and kidnapping.

ERO conducted 142,580 removals to more than 170 countries worldwide, despite the fact that the Title 42 public health Order was in effect for most of the FY – meaning that many individuals who would otherwise have been subject to Title 8 removals were instead expelled under Title 42. During this time, ERO also conducted over 200,000 additional transportation segments, including domestic transfers and Title 42 expulsions, for a total of 249,435 individual movements of noncitizens.

ERO managed the detained and non-detained dockets from initial book-in to final case disposition, including removal, if applicable. Although most noncitizens are on ICE’s non-detained docket, the agency also managed detention operations to provide for the safety, security, and care of a daily average of 28,289 people in ICE custody. The agency also managed enrollment in its Alternatives to Detention program for 194,427 individuals by the end of FY 2023 to foster compliance with noncitizens’ reporting and immigration obligations.

For those in ICE custody in FY 2023, ICE Health Service Corps operated on a budget of nearly $352 million to provide medical, dental and mental health services – exceeding 1.2 million visits over the course of the fiscal year – for the detained population, housed within approximately 128 facilities across the nation.

During FY 2023 ERO worked with its agency and department partners to launch several family-focused initiatives, as large numbers of family units have sought to cross the Southwest Border in recent years. These include Family Expedited Removal Management (FERM), and the ATD Family Unit (FAMU) Removal Initiative – all of which are geared toward the fair, humane, and expedited processing and removal of family units who do not establish eligibility to remain in the United States.

This report represents ICE activities and operations in FY23 and does not include all DHS removals and returns. Overall, DHS conducted record levels of daily removals under Title 8 authorities across DHS components at nearly double what they were compared to the pre-pandemic average (2014-2019). After the Title 42 public health order lifted, on May 12, DHS saw a return to Title 8 arrests and removals highs – which were reduced during the public health order. Through the course of the fiscal year, more than one million individuals were removed and expelled overall under both Title 8 and the Title 42 public health Order.

Homeland Security Investigations

Using its unique border authorities and international partnerships, HSI continued to play a key role in the U.S. government’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and seized more than 1.2 million pounds of narcotics in FY 2023. HSI also targeted all aspects of transnational criminal organizations (TCO) by shutting down dark web vendors, denying cartels the firearms and illicit proceeds that fuel their operations, and collaborating with law enforcement partners across the United States and around the world to dismantle the criminal networks.

HSI conducted 33,108 criminal arrests, identified and/or assisted 1,806 victims of child exploitation, and assisted 731 victims of human trafficking. Additionally, it seized $949 million in criminally derived currency and assets and over $148 million in virtual currency, dealing a significant blow to TCO operations and criminals seeking to profit from illicit crimes.

After targeting TCOs involved in money laundering and human, narcotics and bulk cash smuggling in Latin America, HSI seized 69 firearms, 14,182 rounds of ammunition, 4,846 pounds of narcotics, and over $383,446 in currency; carried out 231 arrests; executed 38 search warrants; rescued 25 minor victims; enrolled 16,164 individuals with biometrics; and trained 303 vetted foreign officers over the course of the year.

Additionally, Transnational Criminal Investigative Units, groups of vetted foreign law enforcement officers who partner with HSI, conducted 2,973 criminal arrests and seized over 232,218 pounds of illegal narcotics and precursor chemicals; 484 firearms; 42,957 rounds of ammunition; $5,363,299 in USD currency; $10,496,905 in counterfeit goods; $25,858,760 in seized general merchandise; $10,839,000 in seized real estate; and $451,720 in seized virtual currency and assets.

Combatting Illicit Fentanyl

During FY 2023, HSI developed and implemented its Strategy for Combating Illicit Opioids, which builds upon many of the directorate’s core investigative authorities and capabilities in fighting transnational criminal organizations and aligns with the National Drug Control Strategy. Throughout the year, HSI participated and led numerous operations to help protect our nation from the scourge of fentanyl. From March through May, HSI partnered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to lead Operation Blue Lotus, a surge in fentanyl interdictions that resulted in the seizure of over 8,200 pounds of fentanyl and 284 arrests. HSI also led or participated in several other drug-related efforts, including Operation ORION, Operation Chain Breaker, Operation Pelican Bones, Operation Hydra and Operation Popeye. ERO continued to successfully effect the removals of those involved in the illicit drug trade and the transnational gangs that facilitate it.

Commitment to Transparency

Transparency remains at the forefront of the agency’s mission. To support this important goal, ICE continues to share information and data about operations and initiatives with a range of stakeholders, from nongovernmental organizations and law enforcement partners around the country and the world, to elected officials at the city, county, state, and federal levels of government. ICE’s new, online statistical dashboard will further improve transparency by publishing enforcement data every quarter. To access the dashboard, please visit ice.gov/statistics.