Recent data reveals a significant rise in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of individuals lacking criminal charges or convictions in the Pacific Northwest during June. This increase highlights a notable shift that occurred shortly after the Trump administration raised ICE’s arrest quotas threefold.
In early June, individuals without any criminal charges or convictions constituted an average of 53% of daily ICE arrests in the Seattle Area of Responsibility, which includes Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. This figure marks an increase from approximately 28% in April, prior to the quota adjustment. Although the average daily arrests of individuals with charges or convictions also rose in early June, the increase was not as pronounced.
The information comes from data acquired by the UC Berkeley School of Law’s Deportation Data Project through Freedom of Information Act requests, relying on seven-day trailing averages. A 38-year-old Iranian-born chiropractor was detained by ICE on July 15 while driving his child to school in Beaverton.
Footage obtained by OPB shows ICE agents breaking the vehicle’s window to apprehend him after he had dropped off his child. Governor Tina Kotek criticized the arrest, stating in a Facebook post, “This terrifying use of force has nothing to do with our safety.”
ICE stated that Khanbabazadeh had overstayed a student visa, despite being married to a U.S. citizen. The couple had recently completed an interview with immigration authorities and were waiting for their green card approval. The arrest occurred in front of the school, leading to a “soft lockdown” of the facility, and as of Monday, Khanbabazadeh remained in ICE custody.
