US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a record 43,138 people in June 2026, the highest monthly total since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, according to newly released government data analyzed by the Guardian. The arrests mark a steady escalation of immigration enforcement operations across the country.
Detention numbers rise sharply
The number of individuals in ICE detention increased by 5,450 since early April, reaching 65,765 as of July 11. This remains below the January record of 70,770 detainees. For the first time since last summer, detainees without criminal histories outnumber those with pending charges or convictions.
Since January 2025, the Trump administration has deported more than 590,600 individuals, the data shows.
Quieter enforcement tactics
Immigration advocates and attorneys report that arrests are now occurring routinely, often during workplace raids, traffic stops, or when immigrants report to ICE for mandatory check-ins. This marks a shift from the high-profile, militarized operations seen in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis last year.
After ICE officers killed two US citizens in Minneapolis—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—Trump replaced Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Markwayne Mullin, who vowed to move away from large-scale raids. “The roving caravans of immigration officers raiding public parks have become less common,” said Gracie Willis, an attorney with the National Immigration Project. “It’s just happening so quickly. People can’t get there to observe, record, and report.”
Funding surge and daily targets
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has benefited from a $70 billion funding increase. The White House has reportedly pushed for 2,000 arrests per day. Two ICE killings in one week—of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, and Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 26—sparked nationwide protests.
Data reporting delays
Congress has required ICE to publish arrest, detention, and deportation data every two weeks since 2019. However, the agency failed to update its figures from early April until July 14. DHS attributed the delay to a series of government shutdowns. The lapse had drawn criticism from lawmakers, media organizations, and nonprofits.
