Increase in Immigration Arrests Under Trump Administration
Immigration arrests have surged under President Donald Trump, with federal agents making close to 51,000 arrests in August. Reuters reviewed data showing widespread increases in arrests across states between July 2025 and July 2026 as the administration enforces its mass deportation policy.
Trump frequently claims immigration officers are implementing the “single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.” Reuters notes that immigration officers face pressure to increase arrests nationwide as enforcement operations expand.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin emphasized the rise in arrests on social media on September 5, stating that “DHS continues to break records.” He noted that for the third consecutive month, ICE set a new record for arrests of illegal aliens in a single month.
“For the THIRD STRAIGHT month—@ICEgov set a new record for the highest number of illegal aliens arrested in a single month,” Mullin said.
Newsweek has created a map using Deportation Data Project data to visualize where arrests leading to ICE detention have increased. ICE has been contacted for comment outside office hours.
Detention Data Insights
Data indicates significant increases in the South and Southwest. Texas saw the highest number of arrests leading to detention in July, with 10,331 compared to 5,787 in July 2025. Florida nearly tripled its numbers from 1,938 to 5,501. Increases were also noted in Arizona, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Massachusetts.
Some states like New York and Maryland recorded smaller hikes, while California, Colorado, Rhode Island, and Nevada showed declines or little change.
“Over the past 21 months, plain-clothed, masked, armed, unidentified and untrained federal agents have terrorized Maryland communities from the Eastern Shore to Park Heights, all the way to Washington County,” said Shana Khader, legal director of We Are CASA.
Arrests vs. Deportations
The increase in arrests does not correlate directly with deportations. Arrestees might remain in detention while their cases progress through the courts. Others may have pending asylum claims or other proceedings.
The administration’s policy focuses not only on arrests but converting these into completed removals. In October 2025, the Operation Midway Blitz led by U.S. Border Patrol official Greg Bovino resulted in 2,034 arrests in Illinois. Minnesota also saw intensified immigration enforcement with Operation Metro Surge, reporting 2,052 arrests.
Nationwide arrest figures reported by Reuters show a record for a third straight month. Despite this, deportations have stayed steady at 1,200 per day. The crackdown is targeting individuals without deportation orders or those with pending immigration cases.
Research from the Deportation Data Project noted cooperation between ICE and local law enforcement as a factor in the increase, alongside arrests of non-criminals.
While mass deportation has defined Trump’s immigration policy, the gap between arrests and deportations suggests arrests don’t always lead to deportations. The next months will indicate if the administration can maintain arrest rates and increase deportations.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Cannon and Shakeema Edwards.