ICE is now arresting nearly 1,200 illegal immigrants a day and had more than 56,000 people in detention, shattering previous records as the agency begins to fulfill President Trump’s promise of mass deportations by nabbing more people without criminal records. Here’s what you need to know about the record-breaking ICE enforcement numbers:
The record-breaking numbers
ICE enforcement reaches unprecedented levels:
- Nearly 1,200 illegal immigrants arrested daily
- More than 56,000 people currently in detention
- Deportations have topped 1,100 per day
- Numbers come five months into Trump’s tenure
The detention population surge
Agency breaks all-time custody records:
- ICE reported 56,397 people in physical custody as of June 14
- More than 5,000 increase from end of May
- Breaks previous all-time high of 55,654 set during 2019 border surge
- Congress only funded ICE for daily average of 44,000 beds
The Stephen Miller directive
White House deputy chief of staff ordered broader arrests:
- Miller reportedly told ICE last month to broaden aperture of arrests
- Said agency needed to be more aggressive to impact Biden-era arrivals
- Directive aimed at millions of illegal immigrants who settled during previous administration
- Result is ICE nabbing more migrants without criminal records
The changing arrest demographics
Criminal population percentage declining in detention:
- Of 39,300 ICE arrestees held as of June 14, 37% had criminal convictions
- 33% had pending criminal charges for total criminal population of 70%
- Down from 77% in late May
- Significantly down from more than 94% in January under Biden administration
The family detention revival
Trump administration restores controversial practice:
- 633 people being held as part of family units on June 14
- Roughly 130% increase over total at end of May
- Biden administration had ended family detention
- Trump administration revived it as “crucial part of being able to oust them”
The deportation pace
Daily removals approach record territory:
- ICE deported 15,656 people over first two weeks of June
- Works out to 1,118 deportations per day
- Below record pace set in 2012 under President Obama
- Obama’s numbers skewed higher because they included more border crossers
The arrest statistics
Book-in numbers could set records if sustained:
- ICE reported 16,704 agency book-ins from June 1 to June 14
- Arrests independent of border arrests
- Experts said if sustained would be record pace
- Covers same two-week period as deportation statistics
The funding challenge
Congressional appropriations create potential crunch:
- ICE running well ahead of 44,000 bed daily average funding
- Could hit funding crunch this summer
- Difficult to sustain or grow pace without massive Congressional money infusion
- Particularly true for detention bed capacity
The “quota-hunting” criticism
Critics accuse agency of pumping up numbers:
- Going after relatively low-level illegal immigrants
- Say violates Trump’s campaign vow to target “criminals”
- Pledge always in tension with mass deportation promise
- Mass deportations cannot be accomplished focusing only on criminal cases
Trump’s recent guidance
President tries to balance competing priorities:
- Urged ICE to strive for mass deportations but avoid “heartland”
- “Must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities”
- Named Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York specifically
- Said “Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside” in major cities
Immigration advocacy response
Rights groups criticize administration approach:
- Vanessa Cardenas of America’s Voice says “Stephen Miller is the one running the show”
- Say administration “seesawing back and forth” in enforcement pronouncements
- Report on-ground enforcement continues at farms, hotels, other businesses
- Argue expansion costing Trump support among political base
The enforcement strategy defense
Supporters say broad approach necessary:
- Rosemary Jenks of Immigration Accountability Project says broadening arrests critical
- “The only way you get them to leave is by doing random enforcement”
- Says “Grandma has to be deported, your next-door neighbor has to be deported”
- Not just “hardened criminals” or “gang-bangers” according to Jenks
Read more:
• Trump’s deportation machine hits stride as ICE arrests, detention set new records
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
