July ICE Arrests Surge to Nearly 50,000, Highest Month Under Trump’s Second Term
In July, ICE detained almost 50,000 people, marking the largest monthly total recorded during the second Trump administration.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported 49,571 arrests in July, the highest monthly figure of the second Trump administration. This represents a 15% increase over June’s 43,021 arrests and a 70% rise from the 29,241 recorded in February. After a dip to around 30,000 arrests in February following two fatal shootings in Minnesota, the agency’s numbers climbed steadily, reaching over 43,000 in June before surging again.
The rise coincides with a strategic shift away from high-profile raids toward more dispersed detentions that attract less public attention. Texas and Florida together accounted for nearly 20,000 of the July arrests, reflecting extensive use of 287(g) agreements that let local police assist federal immigration enforcement. Congress-approved funding last summer allowed ICE to add 12,000 new officers and investigators, further expanding its capacity. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who earlier promised a lower-profile approach, has not altered the administration’s aggressive deportation agenda.
Why it matters
The surge shows the administration’s continued push for large-scale deportations despite public criticism.
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