Detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reached record highs in July during the Trump administration’s second term. According to internal agency data obtained by CBS News, ICE made numerous arrests at airports, immigration offices, and communities throughout the U.S.
In July, ICE took custody of over 46,000 individuals facing deportation for alleged immigration violations like illegal entry or visa overstays. Preliminary figures from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reveal an intensified enforcement surge by ICE under pressure from the White House to record 2,000 arrests daily. The data indicates an average of 1,500 detainees entered ICE custody each day, with some arrested by Customs and Border Protection agents first.
The July detentions exceeded the 43,000 recorded in June, previously the highest during President Trump’s second term. As of this weekend, over 68,000 detainees were held in ICE’s sprawling detention system, nearing a record high set in January.
The summer crackdown marks a rebound in arrests following a drop earlier in the year after federal agents killed two citizens during enforcement in Minneapolis, drawing bipartisan criticism. Large-scale operations in Democratic-led cities have largely ceased, yet arrest levels quietly increased through airport and traffic stop enforcement.
Markwayne Mullin, the new Homeland Security Secretary, aims to further Trump’s promise of overseeing the largest deportation operation. Yet recent enforcement has reignited debate over ICE’s tactics. Last month, ICE officers killed two immigrants in Texas and Maine during traffic stops, triggering a national outcry. Subsequent investigations continue, and a temporary pause on vehicle stops was quickly overturned by Trump.
Instances of plainclothes ICE agents arresting people at airports have caused controversy, leading to viral online footage. Increased collaboration between ICE and the Transportation Security Administration has facilitated arrests based on noncitizen traveler information.
The Trump administration broadened the eligible population for arrest and deportation by ending Temporary Protected Status for over 300,000 Haitian migrants. Notices to report to local ICE offices have sparked community fears, especially in Ohio.
“In President Trump’s first year back, more than 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. due to the crackdown, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations. We’ve deported over 985,000 illegal aliens and arrested over 1 million,” stated the DHS to CBS News.
Theresa Cardinal Brown, a former DHS immigration official during the Obama and Bush administrations, noted changes in ICE’s strategy since Kristi Noem’s departure. While previously advertised operations were public, current enforcement significantly expanded without being overtly publicized.