DHS Watchdog: ICE Located Few of 105K High-Risk Visa Overstay Targets

NewsData.io · United States · Oct 1, 2026

A DHS Office of Inspector General report found that ICE was unable to locate most of nearly 105,000 Priority 1 visa overstay targets—those flagged as potential national security or public safety threats—between 2021 and late 2024, resulting in just eight arrests from over 3 million overstay leads. The report attributes the limited enforcement partly to a 2021 directive from then-DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas narrowing ICE's targeting criteria. The current administration has since shifted to more aggressive interior enforcement, including arresting individuals seeking visa adjustments. Staffing firms relying on foreign national workers—particularly those on temporary nonimmigrant visas—should monitor the evolving enforcement climate, as heightened ICE activity could affect workforce availability and client hiring timelines.