ICE Reveals Over 16,000 Removals in San Diego Region Since January 2025
In a Letter Response to Rep. Levin, ICE Discloses Removals by Country of Citizenship; No Information on Criminal Records
Carlsbad, CA—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) released a letter sent by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the San Diego Congressional Delegation which reveals that removals in the San Diego Area of Removal (AOR) totaled 16,368 between January 20, 2025, and April 1, 2026. In the letter, ICE breaks down the removals by country of origin with the highest share of removals being from Mexico (10,847), Guatemala (996), and Venezuela (544).
The letter also reveals how ICE officers identify themselves, what attire they wear, and when they identify themselves as immigration officers. Despite Rep. Levin’s request for information about the criminal records of the removed individuals or whether judicial warrants were issued during operations, the letter does not include such data.
Read the full ICE letter response here.
“I suspect these high numbers are part of Stephen Miller’s demands to meet high detention quotas. What this letter does not answer is how many detainees and removals had a criminal record. That is a question that deserves an answer,” said Rep. Levin. “I expect ICE to keep even more data than this, and they need to be able to provide information on where they are detaining individuals and why. This type of oversight—requiring ICE to do public reporting—is something I will continue to advocate for. This letter paints only half the picture, not a full one.”
The letter responds to Rep. Levin’s July 2025 letter to ICE, which expressed concerns about ICE’s tactics during operations in Oceanside and requested information about the warrants involved and the detainees’ criminal records.
Read Rep. Levin’s July 2025 letter here.
“The information I requested will help the public understand the scale of the removal operations being undertaken by the Trump Administration,” continued Rep. Levin. “The public should use these numbers to hold the government accountable and to push for greater transparency about who is being targeted for removal. Without that context, raw deportation figures can easily be used to paint a misleading picture of what these operations actually look like on the ground.”
"I appreciate ICE's response, and it is largely consistent with what we believed to be occurring in San Diego. However, the numbers in this letter are quite troubling,” said Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50). "When President Trump took office, he promised the American people that his immigration agenda would target the 'worst of the worst,' yet this letter raises serious questions: Are the 16,000 individuals who were removed from San Diego the 'worst of the worst'? Do they have criminal records, or are these removals simply part of a broader effort to hit an arbitrary quota by this Administration? Our constituents deserve to know who is being removed from their communities and why.”
“It’s disappointing but not surprising that ICE won’t admit the truth – that they’re not targeting ‘the worst of the worst,’ and are instead attempting to eliminate all forms of legal immigration. ICE removed over 16,000 people from San Diego – our friends, neighbors, and hardworking people – who deserve due process, and not to be disappeared without a trace. San Diegans need real answers about what’s happening to people in our community, and this letter response from ICE is a joke. We will keep pressing for actual answers,” said Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51).
"Donald Trump and Stephen Miller's mass deportation agenda has ripped families apart and created fear and chaos in our communities. These numbers are evidence of that. But ICE is still withholding information," said Rep. Juan. Vargas (CA-52). "This lack of accountability and clarity from ICE is unacceptable. We need answers, and we will continue to demand them."
###