ICE sets new deportation and arrest records in fiscal 2026

Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported a record 483,200 people in fiscal year 2026, according to new Department of Homeland Security figures obtained by CBS News. This historic escalation in the president's signature policy surpasses the previous annual high of 442,640 recorded in fiscal year 2025. The agency also reported more than 491,000 immigration arrests during the period ending September 30, a figure that includes nearly 475,000 administrative arrests. These administrative arrests involve individuals detained for civil violations rather than criminal charges.

The new deportation total is approximately 18 percent higher than the 409,849 removals recorded in fiscal year 2012. It is also nearly 78 percent higher than the 271,484 deportations from fiscal year 2024, the last full year of the previous administration. ICE reported a total of 50,925 arrests in August alone, eclipsing the previous monthly high. By September, the agency was still carrying out more than 48,000 arrests per month, reflecting a sustained rapid pace of enforcement.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin praised the agency's performance in a statement released Thursday. He stated that fiscal year 2026 saw the highest number of ICE deportations and arrests in the agency's history. Mullin noted that the total arrests for the fiscal year exceeded the combined total of the three full fiscal years under the previous president. He credited the administration's leadership with allowing ICE to target and remove individuals to make the country safer.

However, the record-breaking numbers have sparked debate over how deportations are counted. A new analysis by Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse found that formal removals accounted for only 63 percent of deportations in July and August 2026. The remainder consisted of voluntary departures and returns. This distinction matters because ICE's figures do not include all governmentwide actions, such as those by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or differentiate between formal removals and voluntary returns.

The administration has consistently defended the campaign as a public safety mission, highlighting cases of individuals with serious criminal records. DHS cited specific examples, including a Mexican national charged with second-degree murder and a Honduran national convicted of attempting to murder her newborn son. While these cases illustrate the severity of some threats, analysts note they are not representative of the hundreds of thousands of arrests made.

Research suggests a broader reality behind the enforcement surge. A study found that in July 2026, more than half of ICE arrests involved immigrants with no criminal convictions or pending charges. The Migration Policy Institute reported that only about 20 percent of approximately 980,000 deportations between January 2025 and July 2026 involved someone with a criminal conviction. Among those deported who had lived in the U.S. for at least two years, 71 percent had no criminal record.

Public opinion reflects a divided stance on the crackdown. Polling from the 2026 midterm elections showed that 58 percent of voters believed the administration's immigration enforcement had gone too far. Another 22 percent said it was about right, while 20 percent felt it had not gone far enough. President Trump acknowledged the political toll in a recent interview, stating that the enforcement was too tough for some groups, including longtime workers in industries like landscaping and hospitality.

Despite the political shifts, the administration does not expect the crackdown to slow down. Stephen Miller, who has been named White House chief of staff, continues to drive the policy. ICE officials have been instructed to aim for approximately 19,000 arrests per week, a target substantially above historical paces. This push comes as Democrats prepare to take control of both chambers of Congress in January, where they may scrutinize the agency's spending and tactics.

The president signed a law in July 2025 that allocated roughly 170 billion dollars for immigration enforcement and border security. This included 75 billion dollars in additional funding for ICE, with 45 billion dollars designated to expand detention capacity. The remaining funds were allocated for arrests, transportation, and personnel. These financial resources provide the administration with significant leverage as it navigates the final two years of the presidency.

The question now facing the president is whether the unprecedented scale of enforcement can maintain public confidence. While support for border security remains high, opinions are increasingly divided over the tactics used in communities nationwide. The administration must balance its mandate to crack down on immigration with the reality of a shifting political landscape and a public that is split on the methods being employed.