Milpitas(California)A new report released by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) has sparked significant debate over immigration enforcement policies in the United States, with Satnam Singh Chahal, representing NAPA, calling for a more transparent and humane approach toward immigrant communities.
In a strongly worded statement, Satnam Singh Chahal highlighted that the latest Immigration Court data for February 2026 reveals a striking reality: only 2 per cent of deportation cases initiated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were based on alleged criminal activity. Out of thousands of “Notices to Appear” (NTAs) filed that month, just 741 cases involved accusations of criminal conduct, while a staggering 98 per cent were related to technical immigration violations such as visa overstays or entry without inspection.
Chahal emphasised that these figures expose a critical gap between political narratives and ground realities. “For years, immigration enforcement has been justified under the pretext of targeting criminal elements. However, the data clearly shows that the overwhelming majority of individuals facing deportation are not criminals but ordinary people caught in administrative or procedural violations,” he stated.
Drawing comparisons with previous years, Chahal noted that the numbers have not only remained low but have actually declined. In February 2025, when Donald Trump returned to office, DHS filed 821 NTAs based on alleged criminal activity, representing 4 per cent of total cases at the time. The current drop to 2 per cent underscores what Chahal described as a “misalignment between enforcement rhetoric and statistical reality.”
NAPA further pointed out that even during the Joe Biden administration, the peak figures were higher than current levels. February 2023 saw 883 such cases, while February 2024 recorded 794. “Despite political shifts in Washington, the long-term trend remains clear criminality is not the primary driver of deportation proceedings,” he added.
Citing TRAC’s historical analysis, Chahal drew attention to a dramatic transformation over the past 25 years. At one time, as many as 3,000 cases per month nearly 20 percent of all NTAs—were based on alleged criminal grounds. Today, both the number and proportion have significantly declined, signaling a fundamental shift in enforcement priorities.
Satnam Singh Chahal urged policymakers, civil society groups, and international human rights organizations to take note of these findings. “This data should compel governments and institutions to rethink immigration policies that often stigmatize entire communities. Deportation should not become a tool of fear against individuals whose only fault is a paperwork violation,” he asserted.
NAPA has called for greater accountability and transparency from DHS, along with reforms that prioritize due process, dignity, and fairness. Chahal concluded by stressing that data-driven policymaking not political rhetoric must guide the future of immigration systems worldwide.
The report has reignited discussions globally, particularly among diaspora communities, about the need to separate criminal justice concerns from immigration enforcement, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not unfairly targeted under broad and misleading narratives.