Despite President Trump's push for tougher immigration enforcement, U.S. agents are on pace to deport fewer people in the government's 2017 fiscal year than during the same period last year, the latest statistics show. 
 
 Trump took office pledging to round up as many as 3 million drug dealers, gang members and other criminals he said were living in the United States illegally. But the most recent figures from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicate the government may be having a hard time finding enough eligible "bad hombres," as the president described them, to quickly meet those targets. 
 
 As of Sept. 9, three weeks before the end of the 2017 fiscal year, ICE had deported 211,068 immigrants, according to the most recent figures provided by the agency. ICE removed 240,255 people during the government's 2016 fiscal year. 
 
 The lower totals are not for lack of effort. According to ICE, its agents have made 43 percent more arrests since Trump took office versus the same period last year. 
 
 While ICE took into custody more immigrants with criminal records, the fastest-growing category of arrests since Trump's inauguration is those facing no criminal charges. The agency arrested more than 28,000 "non-criminal immigration violators" between Jan. 22 and Sept. 2, according to the agency's records, a nearly threefold increase over the same period in 2016. 
 
 "ICE has taken the gloves off, and they are going after whoever they want and for whatever reason," said Ray Ybarra Maldonado, an immigration attorney in Phoenix. "It's a free-for-all now." 
 
 There appear to be several factors that explain why deportations have declined despite the increase in arrests, according to policy experts, immigration attorneys and current and former ICE officials. 
 
 The number of people attempting to sneak across the U.S. border with Mexico fell dramatically in the months following Trump's inauguration, reducing the supply of easy-to-deport immigrants. And while the administration has directed ICE to ramp up enforcement, antipathy toward the president's policies has supercharged the fundraising ability of advocacy groups and law firms that provide pro-bono help to immigrants fighting deportation. 
 
 The additional arrests and litigation appear to be putting a new burden on the U.S. federal immigration court system, which faces a backlog of more than 600,000 cases. It may take years before immigrants arrested under Trump can be deported after exhausting their appeals. 
 
 [Deportation orders up under Trump, fewer prevail in immigration court] 
 
 In just one example of new efforts to challenge the president's immigration policies, the Southern Poverty Law Center says it has opened offices in four towns with large ICE detention centers in the past six months. Flush with donations and offers from volunteer lawyers eager to help, the group is providing free legal help to hundreds of detainees, said Dan Werner, director of the Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative. 
 
 "We're only able to represent a small portion of the immigrants who need lawyers, but there has been a groundswell of support for immigrant rights across the country," he said. 
 
 In a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted last week, 62 percent of Americans said they disapproved of Trump's handling of immigration. 
 
 ICE removals reached a high of 410,000 in the government's 2012 fiscal year, when critics of President Barack Obama labeled him "deporter in chief." In the years that followed, ICE agents were instructed to prioritize immigrants with criminal records, and roughly two-thirds of the agency's removals were immigrants picked up along the border, including many with existing deportation orders who were caught trying to sneak back in. 
 
 But illegal crossings plunged in the first several months of the Trump administration, with apprehensions by U.S. border agents down by as much as two-thirds compared with the same period in 2016. Illegal crossings have ticked upward again but remain well below historic levels, and the perception of tougher enforcement appears to remain a deterrent to would-be migrants. 
 
 ICE officials say they will continue to prioritize criminal suspects, but their new marching orders make clear that anyone in the country illegally is subject to arrest. 
 
 Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said Trump "is keeping his promise to the American people to secure the border, deport illegal immigrants, and fix an immigration system that has long been broken." 
 
 Asked to comment on this year's lower deportation numbers, Smith blamed "sanctuary" policies and advocacy groups for holding ICE back. 
 
 "At every turn illegal immigration activists sue the administration and cooperating local law enforcement to stop increased enforcement efforts," he said in a statement. 
 
 While the number of U.S. jurisdictions that have sought new partnerships with ICE has increased since Trump took office, others with sanctuary policies, such as Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, have become less cooperative, according to Randy Capps, research director at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute in Washington. 
 
 ICE can make arrests of potential deportees with targeted operations on the street or in private homes, but they are relatively costly and time consuming because they require planning and multiple ICE personnel, Capps said. Picking up deportation-eligible immigrants at jails and prisons is much cheaper and far easier logistically. 
 
 ICE needs those facilities to hold on to potential deportees after they've served their sentences or jail time and to give its agents enough time to make a pickup. "Without more officers or more cooperation, it's unclear how much more they can significantly increase their arrest numbers," Capps said. 
 
 Some attorneys and immigrant advocates say ICE has tried to boost its sagging deportation stats by going after the easiest targets — in particular immigrants who show up for regularly scheduled "check-ins" with ICE officers. Under the previous administration, many were allowed to stay for humanitarian reasons if they faithfully appeared for periodic meetings with ICE and didn't commit crimes. 
 
 But this year, an unknown number have appeared for ICE check-ins only to be arrested or given an ultimatum to leave. "This is all about the low-hanging fruit," said Charles Kuck, an Atlanta immigration attorney who teaches at Emory University. "It's how you can spend the least amount of money to get higher deportation numbers." 
 
 Kuck said 15 to 20 of his clients have been arrested in recent months this way. "These are people coming in just as ICE told them to, so they're almost de facto not bad hombres," he said. 
 
 ICE officials say they are not targeting such people but merely upholding the law by enforcing deportation orders. The Obama administration is also to blame, others say, for giving many of those immigrants the unrealistic expectation that ICE would let them defer deportation indefinitely. 
 
 The arrests have left immigration attorneys painfully unsure how to advise their clients, said Royce Bernstein Murray, policy director at the American Immigration Council, an advocacy group. "It's a lose-lose," she said. "If they don't show up for their check-in with ICE, they violate the terms of supervision and become a target for arrest. If they do show up, they could be taken into custody anyway." 
 
 Many ICE agents praise Trump for giving them more latitude to do their jobs, granting more discretion over whom they can arrest and where. As a result, they have increasingly detained a category of people known as "collaterals." 
 
 [Immigrant group sues ICE over ‘collateral arrests’ ] 
 
 Under the Obama administration, ICE agents seeking to arrest a suspect would not typically ask for the documents of relatives and other people living with the suspect. Now they have more discretion to do so, resulting in additional collateral arrests, including potential deportees with no criminal record. 
 
 Philip Miller, a top ICE official, said this week at a policy forum in Washington that the agency will conduct more street-level arrests in jurisdictions that do not cooperate at the jails. "Not very safe for my officers. Not the most efficient way to utilize our resources," he said. "But in jurisdictions that don't work with us, we're left with no other choice." 
 
 

 LOS ANGELES — Federal agents arrested 498 people from 42 countries in a four-day nationwide operation targeting cities that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement said give sanctuary to undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. 
 
 ICE officials said that the sweep, Operation Safe City, which concluded Wednesday, focused on “sanctuary jurisdictions” where the agency is denied access to jails to interview suspects and where its requests to take those arrested into custody are not honored. 
 
 The operation came amid an escalating conflict between these jurisdictions and the Trump administration, which has faced several legal challenges in its efforts to mandate cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The arrests this week were a stinging rebuke to sanctuary cities, several of which have passed ordinances or policies preventing full cooperation with ICE. 
 
 “Sanctuary jurisdictions that do not honor detainers or allow us access to jails and prisons are shielding criminal aliens from immigration enforcement and creating a magnet for illegal immigration,” Thomas D. Homan, the acting director of ICE, said in a statement. “As a result, ICE is forced to dedicate more resources to conduct at-large arrests in these communities.” 

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Fugitive Operations teams arrested 498 individuals from 42 countries for federal immigration violations in multiple cities across the U.S. during a four-day operation that ended Wednesday. Operation ‘Safe City’ focused on cities and regions where ICE deportation officers are denied access to jails and prisons to interview suspected immigration violators or jurisdictions where ICE detainers are not honored. 
 
 The operation targeted individuals who have violated U.S. immigration laws, prioritizing aliens with criminal convictions, pending criminal charges, known gang members and affiliates, immigration fugitives and those who re-entered the U.S. after deportation. Individuals with active DACA were not targeted for arrest. 
 
 “Sanctuary jurisdictions that do not honor detainers or allow us access to jails and prisons are shielding criminal aliens from immigration enforcement and creating a magnet for illegal immigration,” said ICE Acting Director Tom Homan. “As a result, ICE is forced to dedicate more resources to conduct at-large arrests in these communities.” 
 
 “ICE’s goal is to build cooperative, respectful relationships with our law enforcement partners to help prevent dangerous criminal aliens from being released back onto the streets. Non-cooperation policies severely undermine that effort at the expense of public safety,” he said. 
 
 Operation Safe City arrests took place in Baltimore (28), Cook County, Illinois (30), Denver (63), Los Angeles (101), New York (45), Philadelphia (107), Portland, Ore. (33), Santa Clara County, Calif (27); and Washington, D.C. (14) and the state of Massachusetts (50). 
 
 Among those arrested during this week’s operation were: 
 
 In Baltimore, a citizen of El Salvador who entered the U.S. illegally on a fraudulent passport, and was previously charged with attempted murder/conspiracy to commit murder and convicted of first degree assault. She was previously released from local custody before ICE could assume custody. 
 
 In Boston, a citizen of India who entered the U.S. illegally and who was convicted of indecent assault/battery on a person over 14 and was required to register as a sex offender. 
 
 In Denver, a citizen of Guatemala with lawful permanent legal status who was previously convicted of felony menacing, 6 DUIs, child abuse, assault and domestic violence harassment. 
 
 In Los Angeles, a citizen of Mexico and documented Colonia Chiques gang member who entered the United States illegally. At the time of his arrest, the subject rammed multiple law enforcement vehicles in an effort to evade arrest. After he was placed under arrest, a search of his person revealed a loaded handgun in his pocket. The subject was turned over to local authorities and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, probation in possession of firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a loaded firearm in public. 
 
 In New York, a citizen of Ecuador with lawful permanent resident status who was previously charged with sexual abuse of a minor and convicted of endangering the welfare of a child, and convicted of sexual abuse of a minor under 14. He was previously released from local custody before ICE could assume custody. 
 
 In Philadelphia, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, who entered the country illegally and who has previous convictions for possession of firearms. He was previously released from local custody before ICE could assume custody. 
 
 In San Francisco, a citizen of El Salvador who entered the country illegally and who has previous convictions for sex with a minor under 16. He was previously released from local custody before ICE could assume custody. 
 
 In San Jose, a citizen of Mexico who entered the U.S. on a visa and overstayed that visa for more than 10 years. He was previously convicted of felony possession and purchase of narcotics, possession of a controlled substance for sale, and felony child cruelty with the possibility of injury or death. He was previously released from local custody before ICE could assume custody. 
 
 In Seattle, a citizen of Mexico who entered the country illegally and who has previous convictions for DUI, reckless endangerment and negligent driving. 
 
 In Washington, D.C., a citizen of El Salvador who entered the country illegally and who has previous convictions for possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. 
 
 Of the 498 individuals taken into custody during this operation for immigration violations: 
 
 317 had criminal convictions, as noted in the chart below; 
 
 68 are immigration fugitives; 
 
 104 are previously deported criminal aliens; and 
 
 18 are gang members or affiliates. 
 
 Operation Safe City Criminal Convictions Criminal Conviction Total Criminal Conviction Total Aggravated assault 6 Illegal re-entry 5 Agg. assault public officer strong arm 2 Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child 2 Aggravated assault weapon 7 Invade Privacy 1 Amphetamine possession 3 Larceny 9 Amphetamine sell 1 Marijuana possession 1 Assault 13 Marijuana sell 1 Assault - Domestic Violence 2 Negligent manslaughter vehicle 1 Battery 4 Obstructing justice 1 Bribery 1 Peeping tom 1 Burglary 5 Possession of Cocaine 1 Carrying concealed weapon 2 Possession of Firearm 1 Cocaine possession 6 Possession of weapon 5 Cocaine sell 5 Prostitution 5 Contempt of court 1 Public order crimes 1 Controlled Substance 4 Rape 1 Counterfeiting 1 Receive stolen property 1 Cruelty toward child 4 Robbery strong arm 2 Cruelty toward wife 1 Robbery weapon 3 Damage property 3 Sex assault 4 Dangerous drugs 7 Sex offense against child/fondling 10 Disorderly conduct 7 Sex offense other 2 Domestic violence 12 Sexual exploitation of minor 1 Driving under influence 86 Shoplifting 2 Drug Possession 8 Simple assault 2 Drug trafficking 14 Stolen Property 1 Extort threat to injure person 1 Stolen vehicle 1 False citizenship 1 Theft of us government property 1 Forgery 2 Threat terroristic state offenses 1 Fraud 4 Threat to kidnap 1 Harassing communication 1 Traffic offense other 10 Heroin possession 1 Trespassing 3 Heroin sell 2 Vehicle theft 2 Identity theft 3 Weapon offense 11 Illegal entry 3 Total 317 
 
 Data Note: Criminal aliens with multiple prior convictions are categorized based on their most serious conviction. All statistics remain preliminary until finalized by ERO data teams. 
 
 Some of the individuals arrested during this operation will face federal criminal prosecutions for illegal entry and illegal re-entry after removal. The arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted will be processed administratively for removal from the United States. Those who have outstanding orders of removal, or who returned to the United States illegally after being removed, are subject to immediate removal from the country. The remaining individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge, or pending travel arrangements for removal in the near future. 
 
 These enforcement actions were spearheaded by ERO deportation officers assigned to the agency’s Fugitive Operations Teams, which are tasked with locating, arresting, and removing individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States. The teams give top priority to cases involving individuals who pose a threat to public safety, including members of transnational street gangs and sex offenders. 
 
 The officers who conducted last week’s operation received substantial assistance from ICE’s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center and from ICE’s Pacific Enforcement Response Center (PERC). Established in 2015, the PERC operates 24/7 to take appropriate enforcement action against criminal aliens and public safety threats who are booked into local law enforcement custody. The PERC shares leads with ERO field offices nationwide, issuing immigration detainers on high-priority and high-risk criminal aliens.
– With three weeks to go until the end of the 2017 fiscal year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement had deported just 211,068 immigrants, roughly 30,000 less than in the 2016 fiscal year and nearly half of the 410,000 deported in 2012. But as of Sept. 9, ICE had made 43% more arrests year-over-year, reports the Washington Post. Why hasn't that translated into more deportations? According to ICE agents, policy experts, and immigration lawyers, illegal border crossings are down, reducing the number of would-be immigrants who can be more rapidly deported. There has also been a boost in financial support for advocacy groups offering free legal help for those facing deportation. Of those arrested between Jan. 22 and Sept. 2, 28,000 are "non-criminal" violators, triple what it was for the same period in 2016. An Atlanta immigration attorney says the increase, and the overall increase in ICE arrests, shows ICE agents are targeting "low-hanging fruit": relatives of alleged violators and immigrants who've agreed to regular meetings with ICE. Arrests are ongoing. In a four-day span ending Wednesday, 498 people—64% with criminal convictions—were arrested in a crackdown on so-called "sanctuary cities" like Los Angeles and Denver, reports the New York Times. Because of pro bono legal help from groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center leading to a backlog of cases, however, it could be years before detainees are deported, the Post reports.