ICE Sets Record High Detentions Under Trump Administration

The number of detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reached a new monthly record high in July under the second term of President Trump. Internal data acquired by CBS News highlights this increase as ICE expanded operations nationwide, affecting airports, immigration offices, and various communities.

In July, ICE detained more than 46,000 people facing deportation due to alleged immigration violations. This included individuals who entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed their visas, according to preliminary figures from the Department of Homeland Security. This data, not yet public, indicates a significant enforcement surge by ICE, driven by pressure from the White House to achieve 2,000 daily arrests. On average, ICE took 1,500 new detainees into custody each day last month, though many were initially apprehended by Customs and Border Protection.

The over 46,000 detentions in July surpassed the previous record of approximately 43,000 in June. As of the recent weekend, ICE held 68,000 detainees, nearing a record high previously set in January. The summer’s enforcement efforts mark a rebound in the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, following a decrease in arrests earlier in the year. This drop occurred after federal agents faced criticism for the deaths of two American citizens during enforcement actions in Minneapolis.

Although the Trump administration has reduced large-scale immigration operations in Democratic-led cities, ICE has quietly increased arrest levels. This has included operations at airports and traffic stops, with support from newly hired agents nationwide. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who replaced Kristi Noem, expressed a commitment to advancing Trump’s promise of the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. Mullin aims to keep ICE’s actions less visible while intensifying enforcement.

The recent enforcement phase has reignited debate over ICE tactics. Last month, in Texas and Maine, ICE agents fatally shot two immigrants, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, during traffic stops. These incidents caused widespread outcry and led to ICE pausing most vehicle stops. However, this pause was brief, with President Trump reversing it within 24 hours. Investigations into these shootings remain ongoing at both federal and local levels.

Controversy also arose from undercover ICE agents making arrests near airport gates and check-in counters. These actions have led bystanders to capture and share videos online. Enhanced collaboration between ICE and the Transportation Security Administration has facilitated these arrests by providing agents with traveler information, particularly about those with expired statuses.

The Trump administration has widened the scope of people eligible for arrest and deportation. Recently, this included terminating the Temporary Protected Status for over 300,000 Haitian migrants. In Ohio, some Haitian migrants have received notices to report to local ICE offices, causing concerns in communities such as Springfield.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement crediting the departure of over 3 million illegal aliens from the U.S. to the administration’s efforts, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations. By July 12, federal agents had deported more than 985,000 illegal aliens and arrested over 1 million.

Homeland Security Secretary Mullin stated, “We’re turning up the heat on the streets,” emphasizing the administration’s effort to empower law enforcement. Theresa Cardinal Brown, who served at DHS under Obama and Bush, noted a strategic shift in ICE operations post-Noem’s tenure. The current approach is less publicized but more extensive.

Brown noted that the goal remains focused on mass deportations, even if the strategies have become less overt.