Detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reached a monthly record high under the second Trump administration in July. According to internal agency data obtained by CBS News, ICE expanded its enforcement efforts at airports, immigration offices, and communities across the U.S.
Last month, ICE detained more than 46,000 individuals facing deportation for alleged immigration violations, such as illegal entry into the U.S. or visa overstays. Preliminary figures from the Department of Homeland Security indicate the ongoing summer enforcement surge intensified in July due to pressure from the White House to achieve 2,000 arrests daily.
An average of 1,500 detainees entered ICE custody each day last month, although some were initially apprehended by Customs and Border Protection agents. The July tally exceeded the roughly 43,000 detentions in June, which was the highest during President Trump’s second term. ICE’s detention system currently holds 68,000 detainees, nearing the record high of over 70,000 set in January.
The crackdown on illegal immigration has gained momentum this summer after a significant drop in arrests earlier this year. This drop followed the federal agents’ killing of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis which drew bipartisan criticism.
The Trump administration has discontinued large-scale immigration operations in several Democratic-led cities but has quietly increased arrest levels recently. This includes airport crackdowns, traffic stops, and deploying newly hired agents nationwide. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who replaced Kristi Noem, aimed to keep ICE out of the headlines while furthering President Trump’s promise of overseeing the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
However, the crackdown has reignited the debate over ICE and its methods. Last month, ICE officers in Texas and Maine killed two immigrants, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, during attempted traffic stops, causing local and national protests. The shootings led ICE to briefly pause most vehicle stops, but President Trump overturned the pause within 24 hours. Investigations into the killings continue at federal and local levels.
Instances of ICE agents in plainclothes arresting individuals near airport gates and check-in counters have sparked controversy, with bystanders often filming the arrests, leading to viral online videos. These arrests were facilitated by increased cooperation between ICE and the Transportation Security Administration, which shared information on noncitizen travelers with agents.
The Trump administration expanded the criteria for arrest and deportation, recently ending the Temporary Protected Status of over 300,000 Haitian migrants. Officials and advocates report that some Haitian migrants in Ohio have received notices to report to ICE offices, causing panic in communities like Springfield.
The Department of Homeland Security stated, “In President Trump’s first year back in office, over 3 million illegal aliens left the U.S. due to the crackdown on illegal immigration, including about 2.2 million self-deportations. By July 12, over 985,000 illegal aliens have been deported, and over 1 million have been arrested.”
Markwayne Mullin emphasized the increased enforcement efforts, stating, “We’re turning up the heat on the streets. We’re working harder than ever, empowering law enforcement to do their job.”
Theresa Cardinal Brown, a former immigration official during the Obama and Bush administrations, highlighted a shift in ICE’s strategy since Noem’s departure. She noted the previous leadership aimed for public enforcement visibility, whereas current operations are expanding without the “in-your-face” approach. Brown remarked, “The administration never abandoned its goal of mass deportations.”