Immigration Arrests, Deportations Way Up In Colorado And Wyoming

Bryan Cox/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP

Significantly more immigrants were arrested and deported from Colorado and Wyoming in the first few months of Donald Trump's presidency than compared to the same period in 2016.

The biggest surge was in arrests of suspected undocumented immigrants without a criminal record. One hundred thirty-four individuals were detained between President Trump’s inauguration and the end of his first 100 days in office. That figure is more than four times the number a year ago, when 28 non-criminal immigrants were arrested.

Arrests of undocumented immigrants with criminal histories were up just slightly, from 678 in 2017 compared with 642 in the same period last year. One of those arrests included one of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's "most wanted" fugitives: an Aurora man convicted of sexual assault and other felonies.

Deportations more than doubled for both criminals and non-criminals in Colorado and Wyoming. ICE doesn't provide statistics by state, instead they divide the country into "areas of responsibility."

The figures, provided by an ICE spokesman, reflect national data ICE released to mark the first 100 days of the administration. President Trump has targeted more immigrants who simply come in contact with federal authorities, or who previously got a final deportation order but were allowed to stay under the Obama administration.

In a news release, ICE acting director Thomas Homan said, "agents and officers have been given clear direction to focus on threats to public safety and national security, which has resulted in a substantial increase in the arrest of convicted criminal aliens. However, when we encounter others who are in the country unlawfully, we will execute our sworn duty and enforce the law."