The Trump administration has reported a significant increase in immigrant arrests, reaching an all-time high last month, as indicated by recently released government statistics that highlight the ongoing intensification of operations by U.S. immigration officials nationwide.
An analysis by The Guardian of the latest data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed that federal immigration agents apprehended 43,138 individuals in June, marking the highest monthly figure since Donald Trump assumed office in January of last year and initiated a campaign focused on mass deportations of immigrants.
Additionally, the number of individuals held in detention has risen by 5,450 since early April, when ICE last reported its detainee figures. As of July 11, a total of 65,765 individuals were in ICE detention, which remains slightly below the peak of 70,770 recorded in January.
Consistent with trends observed since last summer, the proportion of detainees without any criminal history continues to exceed those with pending charges or convictions.
According to the most recent figures, the Trump administration has deported over 590,600 individuals since January 2025.
This new data aligns with the observations from immigration advocates and legal representatives who report a noticeable increase in ICE activities within various communities across the country. Fueled by a $70 billion boost in funding, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees both ICE and border patrol, has been progressively intensifying its arrest and detention efforts. Reports indicate that the White House has urged immigration authorities to target 2,000 arrests daily.
Communities have become increasingly vigilant regarding ICE operations, particularly following the deaths of two men, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, age 52, and Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, age 26, who were killed by immigration officers within a single week. These incidents have ignited protests against the U.S. immigration enforcement system in various cities nationwide.
Last year, the Trump administration initiated several militarized immigration operations in cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis. However, there has been a shift toward a more subdued enforcement strategy. Following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Trump replaced then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem with Markwayne Mullin, who expressed a desire to shift away from high-profile enforcement actions.
The previously common practice of immigration officers conducting raids in public parks and parking lots has diminished. Instead, arrests are increasingly occurring at workplaces, outside residences, or during traffic stops, as reported by advocates and legal assistance organizations. Notably, many immigrants are being detained during mandatory check-in appointments at ICE offices, while others are intercepted by police and local law enforcement agencies partnered with the federal government for immigration enforcement.
Immigration advocates have pointed out that the routine and discreet nature of these arrests has made it challenging for volunteers—who previously monitored for ICE vehicles and alerted communities—to effectively track and report on ICE operations. Gracie Willis, an attorney with the National Immigration Project, remarked, “It’s just happening so quickly. So people can’t get there to observe, record and report what they saw. Often all that’s left is an empty car sitting there.”
Since 2019, Congress has mandated that ICE provide updates on arrest, detention, and deportation statistics every two weeks. However, until recently, the agency had not issued any reports since early April, causing frustration among lawmakers from both parties, as well as various media organizations, academics, and non-profits advocating for transparency regarding ICE’s activities. In a statement to The Guardian, the DHS attributed the prolonged delay in data reporting to a series of government shutdowns.
The June arrest figures represent the highest numbers recorded since May 2019, a period marked by a surge in the arrival of families and unaccompanied minors at the U.S.-Mexico border. At that time, the majority of apprehensions were conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, whereas since Trump took office in 2025, ICE has accounted for the majority of arrests, according to government data.
Public interest journalism greatly benefits from first-hand accounts from knowledgeable sources. If you have information to share on this topic, you can confidentially reach out to us through the following channels:
The Guardian app includes a feature for submitting story tips. Your messages will be end-to-end encrypted and blend in with the app’s routine activities, ensuring that observers cannot discern that you are communicating with us or what is being discussed.
If you haven’t yet downloaded The Guardian app, it is available on both iOS and Android platforms. Simply navigate to the menu and select ‘Secure Messaging’.
For additional secure communication options, please refer to our guide at theguardian.com/tips, which outlines various methods for contacting us and discusses their respective advantages and disadvantages.
