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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained nearly 51,000 people last month, marking the highest number of arrests in a single month in the agency’s history.
The surge comes as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies nationwide immigration enforcement efforts. Data released by ICE and reported by US media show the agency made an average of around 1,645 arrests per day during the month.
The previous monthly record stood at about 43,000 arrests in June, meaning new highs have been set for two consecutive months.
Since returning to office, President Trump has stepped up enforcement of immigration laws, directing federal agencies to expand operations aimed at identifying and deporting individuals living in the United States without legal status.
Enforcement actions have been ramped up across multiple states. In Georgia alone, a targeted operation led to the detention of 1,226 people. More than 30 individuals were also detained at airports during the same period.
Officials from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said deportations have also increased. In June, DHS reported that 356,389 people had been removed from the country so far in the current fiscal year.
DHS defended the crackdown as necessary, saying it aims to enforce immigration laws and remove individuals considered threats to public safety. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the effort has strong public backing, claiming that 80 percent of Americans support deporting undocumented migrants with criminal records.
However, the large-scale operations have drawn criticism. Reports indicate that some individuals detained in recent raids had no criminal history and, in some cases, possessed valid work permits or parole documents. Immigration advocates warn that the enforcement campaign may be extending beyond its stated focus on criminals.
Even some supporters of the administration’s immigration policies argue that enforcement should go further. Mike Howell, president of the Trump-aligned Oversight Project, said arrest numbers remain below expectations and called for stricter enforcement at workplaces.