ICE smashes its all-time records: most arrests and deportations in agency history, DHS says

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and deported more illegal immigrants in fiscal 2026 than in any year on record, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday, the Washington Examiner reports.

"Fiscal Year 2026 saw the highest number of ICE deportations and arrests for any year in ICE's history. September 2026 was the best September in ICE's history in terms of arrests," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said. "The total number of ICE arrests in Fiscal Year 2026 was more than all three full fiscal years under Biden combined, as the patriots of ICE work around the clock to make America safe again."

ICE arrested more than 491,000 people in fiscal 2026, which ran from October 2025 through September 2026. That includes 474,850 administrative arrests, double the 2025 figure and more than 2022, 2023 and 2024 combined. The previous record, 288,390, was set under the Obama administration.

ICE deported 483,200 illegal immigrants in fiscal 2026, up from 442,640 the year before. Since President Trump took office in January 2025, ICE and partner agencies have arrested more than 1.25 million illegal immigrants and removed 1.2 million, and DHS says more than 3 million migrants in total have left the country.

Democrats and immigrant-rights advocates have called for ICE to get a judge's warrant for every arrest. Congress has not acted on those calls.