US ICE arrests nearly 50,000 migrants in one month as Trump intensifies immigration crackdown

United States (US) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 49,571 people in July, recording its highest monthly total since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

The latest figure represents a significant increase in immigration enforcement across the United States. It was 15 per cent higher than the 43,021 arrests recorded in June.

July’s total was also about 70 per cent above the 29,241 arrests recorded in February.

The figures were supplied by ICE to the University of California, Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project. The Associated Press analysed the data.

Enforcement numbers climb

ICE’s latest figures point to a major expansion of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign.

The increase has continued even as the administration appears to have changed how it conducts enforcement operations.

Earlier this year, authorities reduced some highly visible immigration operations in major cities. Those actions had triggered protests and strong criticism from opponents of the administration.

Since then, ICE has increasingly carried out arrests through operations that attract less public attention.

The agency recorded slightly more than 8,000 monthly arrests before Trump took office in January. Many of those cases involved immigrants transferred to federal custody from local or state jails.

The numbers increased after the administration relaxed restrictions on ICE targets and locations.

Additional government funding also gave the agency more resources to expand its operations.

ICE arrests eventually crossed 40,000 in December, based on government records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

The number fell to around 29,000 in February after an immigration operation in Minnesota triggered protests and criticism from Democratic lawmakers.

However, the decline was temporary. Arrests increased again in June before reaching the July record.

Texas and Florida lead arrests

Texas and Florida were responsible for nearly 20,000 arrests recorded in July.

Both states have strengthened their cooperation with ICE through 287(g) agreements. The arrangements allow selected state and local law enforcement officers to support federal immigration authorities.

The rise in arrests also follows a major increase in federal funding for ICE.

The agency is now expanding its workforce and plans to recruit about 12,000 deportation officers and investigative agents.

Despite earlier indications that the administration wanted to keep ICE operations out of the spotlight, the latest figures show that its immigration policy remains firmly focused on increasing deportations.

The strategy may have become less visible, but the growing arrest figures suggest that immigration enforcement under Trump is continuing at a much higher level than before his return to office.