ICE Arrests Nearly 50,000 in July, Setting Trump-Era Record

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested nearly 50,000 illegal migrants in July, setting a record for President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a new report.

The Associated Press reported that ICE made 49,571 arrests in July, a 15 percent increase over the 43,021 arrests recorded in June. That figure also marks a 70 percent surge compared to the 29,241 arrests in February, reflecting a steady upward trend in enforcement activity.

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, credited ICE with maintaining its enforcement push despite pressure from left-wing activists and media scrutiny. “They didn’t stop the enforcement,” Krikorian told the AP. “They changed the tactics and are, if anything, being more effective.”

The rise in arrests is attributed largely to growing cooperation with state and local law enforcement agencies across the country. According to the report, the number of local agencies participating in the 287(g) program—which allows local officers to perform immigration enforcement functions—has surged from 135 when Trump began his second term to more than 1,400 today.

In July alone, local law enforcement assisted in the arrests of roughly 6,500 illegal migrants, accounting for 13 percent of all ICE arrests that month. That is a significant jump from the five percent of arrests aided by local authorities in July of the previous year, according to the AP.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported in June that the total number of migrants arrested so far in the fiscal year stands at 356,389.

Despite the record numbers, some critics argue that the pace of enforcement still falls far short of the scale of illegal immigration during the Biden administration and the promise of mass deportation.

“The point is the numbers remain wildly disproportionately low to the scale of illegals let in by Biden and the promise of mass deportation,” said Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, a conservative watchdog group. “The numbers will stay low until worksite enforcement is the central pillar of the strategy. I’m very worried about the amnesty lobby continuing to use inflated deportation statistics to push for a grand compromise and sell out. That’s why I’m suing DHS for real data and will keep doing it until I don’t have to.”

Howell’s comments echo broader concerns among immigration hardliners that the administration’s enforcement numbers, while higher than recent months, still do not match the estimated millions of illegal migrants who entered the country under Biden’s policies.

A DHS spokesperson highlighted a specific policy reversal under the Trump administration. “DHS reversed the horrendous Biden-era policy that allowed aliens in our country illegally to jet around our country,” the spokesperson said. “Under President Trump, DHS will no longer tolerate this. This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport.”

The comment refers to a Biden-era rule that permitted undocumented immigrants to travel by air within the United States with certain identification, a policy that critics said facilitated illegal movement. The Trump administration has since tightened those rules, requiring stricter verification for domestic flights.

The new arrest numbers come as immigration remains a central issue in the 2026 midterm elections, with Republicans touting enforcement gains and Democrats pointing to what they describe as inhumane treatment of migrants.

ICE officials have not publicly commented on the July figures, but the agency has consistently emphasized its commitment to enforcing U.S. immigration laws.

Krikorian argued that the increased local cooperation is a key factor behind the improved numbers. “Local police are the force multiplier,” he said. “When they’re engaged, ICE can be far more effective without expanding its own footprint.”

The 287(g) program has been a point of contention, with immigrant advocacy groups arguing that it leads to racial profiling and erodes trust in local police. However, proponents say it is an essential tool for removing criminals and repeat violators.

The AP report also noted that the 13 percent share of arrests aided by local law enforcement in July represents a near-tripling of the five percent figure from the same month last year, indicating that the administration’s push for local partnerships is yielding tangible results.

Still, Howell’s warning about the “amnesty lobby” highlights a divide within the conservative movement over how to respond to the numbers. Some argue the administration should accelerate deportations even further, while others worry that focusing on the arrest totals could overshadow the need for structural changes, such as mandatory worksite enforcement.

“We’re seeing a lot of noise about record arrests, but the real test is whether they can sustain this and turn it into actual removals,” Howell said. “Removals are what matter to the American people.”

The DHS spokesperson reiterated the administration’s broader goal: “We are committed to restoring the rule of law and removing those who have no legal right to be here. The record arrests in July are just one part of that effort.”

As the fiscal year progresses, ICE is on track to exceed its previous annual arrest totals, according to the AP. But whether that will satisfy the president’s base—or silence critics who demand even steeper numbers—remains an open question.

Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/25/report-ice-arrested-record-nearly-50000-illegal-migrants-in-july/