Federal immigration agents arrested 261 beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program during the first 10 months of President Trump's second administration, according to U.S. government statistics obtained by CBS News. The tally, shared with Congress, is already prompting pointed questions from Democratic senators and immigrant-rights advocates about how DACA enrollees are getting swept up in the latest enforcement push.
What the government figures show
In a letter to Senator Dick Durbin, the Department of Homeland Security reported that between Jan. 1 and Nov. 19, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 261 DACA beneficiaries and removed 86 of them, according to documents obtained by CBS News. The letter also said 241 of those taken into custody had what DHS labeled "criminal histories," without detailing what kinds of offenses that category included.
Lawmakers push back
Senators Dick Durbin, Alex Padilla and Mark Kelly called the arrests "deeply troubling" and pressed for a fuller accounting of who was picked up and why, noting that DACA recipients are repeatedly vetted. "DACA recipients go through strict background checks every time they renew this protection," the senators said in a statement to CBS News, arguing that the new figures raise serious questions about the targets of the administration's drive.
Who the Dreamers are
DACA provides temporary protection from deportation and permission to work for people brought to the United States as children, although it does not create lawful immigration status, according to USCIS. About 516,000 people were enrolled in DACA as of June 2025, based on data compiled by USAFacts, which uses USCIS figures.
Broader enforcement trends
Analysts say ICE arrests have climbed while a growing share of those taken into custody have no U.S. criminal convictions, a combination that undercuts the administration's claim that it is focused on "the worst of the worst." A report from the American Immigration Council documents rapid growth in immigration detention, and separate analysis by FactCheck.org highlights that many newly detained people lack convictions in U.S. courts.
What comes next
Democrats on Capitol Hill are now pushing for more transparency and oversight, while immigrant-rights groups say they will keep pressing for details on how DHS classifies cases and decides whom to arrest. Members of Congress have previously condemned detentions of Dreamers and demanded answers, as reported by The Guardian, setting the stage for continued scrutiny as the latest arrest numbers circulate.
