Archive · 25 Aug 2026
ICE arrests reach nearly 50,000, highest of Trump’s second term
ICE is a U.S. agency that arrests people for immigration violations.
It arrested nearly 50,000 people in July.
That was its highest monthly total during Donald Trump’s second term.
The number was higher than in June and much higher than in February.
Before Trump returned to office, monthly arrests were a little above 8,000.
The administration says its immigration enforcement effort is continuing.
Critics have said some operations were disruptive and caused public concern.
Texas and Florida made many agreements allowing local officers to help ICE.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 49,571 people in July.
July arrests rose 15% from 43,021 in June and 70% from 29,241 in February.
Arrests were slightly above 8,000 before Donald Trump returned to office.
Texas and Florida accounted for nearly 20,000 July arrests.
ICE has hired 12,000 deportation officers and investigative agents after receiving billions of dollars in funding.
- Who
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under the Donald Trump administration.
- What
- ICE recorded 49,571 immigration arrests in July, the highest monthly total of Trump’s second term.
- When
- July; the figures compare with June, February, December, and the period before Trump entered office.
- Where
- The United States, with Texas and Florida accounting for nearly 20,000 July arrests.
- Why
- The arrests were part of the administration’s mass deportation agenda, supported by expanded agency funding, staffing, and cooperation with state and local authorities.
Administration enforcement position
Critics’ concerns
Mass deportation strategy
Administration enforcement position
The Trump administration has continued advancing its mass deportation agenda, including through expanded ICE arrests and additional personnel.
Critics’ concerns
The enforcement campaign has prompted public outcry, and later arrests have remained disruptive even when they attracted less attention.
Enforcement methods
Administration enforcement position
The administration shifted from high-profile operations in large cities toward arrests that received less public attention.
Critics’ concerns
Democratic lawmakers and others criticized the enforcement response after protests and an uproar followed shootings in Minnesota; the article also reports fatal shootings of immigrants in encounters with ICE officers.
State and local cooperation
Administration enforcement position
Texas and Florida have used 287(g) agreements to allow state and local law enforcement to assist federal immigration enforcement.
Critics’ concerns
The agreements make state and local officers functionally part of federal immigration enforcement, contributing to concerns about the breadth of the crackdown.
- July arrests
- 49,571
- June arrests
- 43,021
- February arrests
- 29,241
- Increase from June
- 15%
- Increase from February
- 70%
- Texas and Florida arrests
- Nearly 20,000 in July
- New ICE personnel
- 12,000 deportation officers and investigative agents
- Data source
- Government data provided by ICE to the University of California, Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project and analyzed by The Associated Press
