ICE Posts Record Month as Trump Administration Expands Immigration Enforcement

The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign reached a new milestone in June, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recording its busiest month since President Donald Trump returned to office.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE booked 43,138 illegal immigrants into federal detention facilities during June, the highest monthly total of the administration’s second term. The agency averaged 1,438 arrests per day throughout the month, and officials say that pace has continued to increase in July, reaching nearly 1,600 daily arrests during the first 11 days.

White House Border Czar Tom Homan called June a record-breaking month for the agency, crediting expanded resources, stronger enforcement policies, and increased operational tempo.

“We’re turning up the heat on the streets,” Homan said. “We’re out there working harder than we ever have because we’ve empowered our law enforcement to do their job.”

ICE currently holds 65,765 people in federal immigration custody, with nearly two-thirds of those detainees taken into custody during June. DHS also reported that nearly 89% of those currently detained were arrested directly by ICE officers through interior enforcement operations rather than being transferred from U.S. Customs and Border Protection after crossing the border.

The administration says the recently enacted Secure America Act has provided a major boost to enforcement efforts. The legislation includes approximately $70 billion in funding for DHS agencies through 2029, allowing the department to hire additional immigration officers, expand detention capacity, improve immigration court operations, and strengthen nationwide enforcement.

DHS data also highlights the criminal histories of many individuals currently in ICE custody. According to the agency, 19,329 detainees have criminal convictions, while another 20,247 face pending criminal charges. Officials say those numbers have continued to rise compared with earlier this year.

The White House has also indicated that enforcement operations will continue expanding, including in major cities such as New York. Homan said ICE arrests are running roughly 40% higher than during the same period last year, despite a temporary slowdown during the recent government shutdown.

“Our numbers are higher than they’ve ever been,” Homan said. “I’m sick and tired of people saying we’re not doing enough because that’s an insult to every ICE agent that is strapping up every day and working six and seven days a week to get this done.”

Administration officials say the latest figures reflect a continued focus on interior immigration enforcement as President Trump works to fulfill his campaign pledge to increase deportations and strengthen enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.