ICE Arrests Reach Record Levels Under Trump Administration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recorded a significant rise in detentions in July, marking a monthly high in President Trump’s second term, according to internal data viewed by CBS News. The agency expanded its operations, targeting airports, immigration check-in offices, and various U.S. communities.

In July, ICE apprehended over 46,000 individuals due to alleged immigration violations, such as illegal entry or visa overstays, based on preliminary Department of Homeland Security figures. The Trump administration’s push led to heightened enforcement activities, with ICE under pressure to achieve 2,000 arrests daily nationwide. On average, 1,500 individuals entered ICE custody each day last month.

This new figure surpassed June’s total of approximately 43,000 detentions, previously the highest during Trump’s current term. As of a recent count, ICE was detaining 68,000 people, nearing the record high of over 70,000 from January.

ICE’s intensified actions follow a decrease in arrests earlier this year after two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis, attracting bipartisan criticism. Although large-scale operations in Democratic-led cities have decreased, ICE has increased activity through measures such as airport crackdowns and traffic stops.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who replaced Kristi Noem this spring, has aimed to conduct ICE operations with less media attention while promoting President Trump’s vision for large-scale deportations. The recent phase of enforcement, however, has revitalized discussions on ICE’s methods.

Controversies arose following the shooting of two immigrants during vehicle stops in Texas and Maine, which led to local and national backlash. ICE briefly halted most vehicle stops, though this pause was swiftly reversed by President Trump.

ICE officers, frequently in plain clothes, have executed arrests near airport gates and check-in areas with increased coordination with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which provides information on noncitizen travelers.

The Trump administration has also expanded the scope of those eligible for arrest, recently ending Temporary Protected Status for over 300,000 Haitian migrants. Notices issued to some in Ohio have caused alarm in communities such as Springfield.

In a statement to CBS News, the Department of Homeland Security reported over 3 million unauthorized immigrants left the U.S. under intensified enforcement, including an estimated 2.2 million self-departures, with over 985,000 deportations as of mid-July.

Theresa Cardinal Brown, a former DHS immigration official under Obama and Bush, noted a strategic shift under current ICE leadership, stressing less publicized operations compared to prior administrations. Despite changes in approach, the commitment to mass deportations remains evident.