Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested approximately 10,000 individuals over a five-day period concluding in late June, a significant increase in the agency's deportation efforts. The numbers, obtained by the Associated Press, indicate a strategic shift from prominent arrest operations in major cities to less conspicuous methods aimed at fulfilling President Donald Trump's deportation agenda.
The data suggests that while the administration has moved away from targeting specific cities, the pace of arrests has accelerated, averaging about 2,000 arrests per day during the late June period. The specific locations of these arrests were not detailed.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that its law enforcement divisions are committed to President Trump's pledge to remove individuals who have entered the country illegally, particularly those with criminal records. "Our message is clear: if you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you," a department statement read.
This surge in arrests coincides with an increase in the number of individuals held in ICE detention facilities. In June, approximately 39,000 people were in ICE custody, a rise from the roughly 30,000 per month reported since February. According to analysis by the Associated Press using data from UC Berkeley's Deportation Data Project, a daily average of 2,000 arrests would represent a substantial increase compared to previous periods. For context, December saw the highest average daily arrests of 1,283 nationwide since the beginning of the Trump administration. In January, with a concentrated operation in Minneapolis, daily arrests averaged around 1,212 nationwide.
The Minneapolis operation, which involved hundreds of immigration enforcement officers, was a notable event in the administration's deportation strategy. This period saw clashes between officers and protesters, with two citizens reportedly killed during demonstrations. Following these events, Border Czar Tom Homan began reducing the number of officers in Minnesota, and the agency scaled back its high-visibility surge operations.
In February, daily ICE arrests fell to an average of 1,057, according to data available through the Deportation Data Project, which obtained ICE arrest figures through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. Data from the project is current only through February.
After a change in leadership at Homeland Security, the agency's new secretary, Markwayne Mullin, indicated a move toward a less public approach to immigration enforcement, while still aiming to advance the administration's priorities on immigration.