Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-08-26 · by Al Jazeera Staff
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported the highest number of arrests in July since President Donald Trump took office, with 49,571 people detained. This marks a 15% increase from June's count and a 70% rise above February's total. The majority of these arrests occurred in Texas and Florida, which have agreements with ICE that allow local law enforcement to assist in immigration enforcement efforts. ICE has increased its staff by around 12,000 officers and agents over the past year, contributing to the surge in arrests.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
49,571 people were arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in July, according to newly released government data. This is a record number of arrests since President Donald Trump's second term began, and an increase of 15% from June and 70% from February. The previous record was set in October 2022 with 49,571 people arrested. Despite the administration claiming it targets only criminals, a significant portion of those arrested were likely immigrants who are not considered a threat to public safety. Immigration advocates say that while the number of high-profile raids has decreased, ICE is still actively detaining and deporting people through more subtle means, such as traffic stops and collaborations with local law enforcement agencies. The surge in arrests is particularly concerning for 170,000 Salvadorans who are set to lose their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections in September, making them vulnerable to deportation.
Written for “US Immigration Arrests Rise” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 2605 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 49,571 people in July, the highest in a month since President Donald Trump took office for his second term, according to the latest figures available.
uncertain
Trump → arrest → figures
The figures for July showed a rise of roughly 15 percent over June’s count and about 70 percent above February’s total, according to government data provided by ICE to the Deportation Data Project based at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Los Angeles and analysed by The Associated Press news agency.
uncertain
figures → show → agency
Americans say Trump has gone too far on US immigration:
asserted
Trump → say → immigration
Poll
- list 2 of 3US plans to equip ICE officers with electric-shock gloves
- list 3 of 3Salvadoran man dies in ICE custody at New Jersey detention centre
The month before Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025, monthly arrests were slightly more than 8,000, a figure largely made up of immigrants transferred from city or state jails and prisons and turned over to ICE to remove from the country.
asserted
arrests → equip → country
In his first year back in office, the monthly numbers started climbing as officials eased limits on where and whom agents could target.
uncertain
agents → start → limits
By December, monthly arrests had surpassed 40,000.
asserted
arrests → surpass → 40,000
In the aftermath of two fatal shootings in Minnesota in January that led to protests and an uproar from Democratic lawmakers, arrests began to fall in February.
asserted
arrests → lead → February
After remaining stagnant for months, the numbers surged in June and then again in July.
asserted
numbers → remain → July
Nearly 20,000 of the July arrests happened in Texas and Florida.
asserted
20,000 → happen → Texas
Both states have taken part in cooperation deals with ICE known as 287(g) agreements that enable local law enforcement to essentially operate as additional arms for immigration enforcement.
asserted
that → take → enforcement
The expanding arrest campaign comes after a hiring drive, with ICE bringing on roughly 12,000 additional officers and agents last year.
asserted
ICE → expand → officers
