RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is the face of the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies.
The agency is tasked with arresting and deporting immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Some have been here for decades, living and working and raising families.
Under President Barack Obama, ICE focused on removing immigrants who had committed serious crimes. In one of his first moves in office, President Donald Trump directed his administration to target anyone in the country illegally.
ICE officials say their mandate is misunderstood. They still focus on finding and deporting dangerous criminals.
Government data back up that ICE is mostly targeting criminals — but also show the agency has increased the number of people arrested who have been accused but not convicted of a crime and also increased arrests for immigration violations.