US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made nearly 50,000 arrests in July, a surge from previous months that marks the highest monthly total since President Donald Trump's second term began. The data shows that over half of those arrested had no criminal history, contradicting the administration's claim that its enforcement targets people with crimes. Texas and Florida accounted for nearly 20,000 of these arrests, highlighting their growing role in the mass deportation agenda through partnerships with ICE. The number of arrests made by state and local police departments partnering with ICE has increased dramatically over the last year, now accounting for about 13% of total 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 2615 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
The month before President Donald Trump returned to office, immigration arrests stood at just over 8,000, mostly involving immigrants transferred from local or state detention facilities to ICE for deportation.
asserted
arrests → return → deportation
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 50,000 people in July, the highest monthly total since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to new figures.
uncertain
Enforcement → arrest → figures
ICE made 49,571 arrests in July, up 15% from 43,021 in June and 70% from 29,241 in February, according to government data analysed by the Associated Press news agency.
uncertain
ICE → make → agency
The surge in immigration arrests comes as the Trump administration continues to pursue its mass deportation agenda, shifting from high-profile operations in major US cities to less visible enforcement actions.
asserted
administration → come → actions
As arrests have surged in recent weeks, boosted by increased hiring, ICE has detained people during traffic stops and increasingly relied on state and local law enforcement agencies to carry out immigration enforcement duties.
ICE officers have also begun arresting Haitians who have lost protections from deportation.
The new arrest numbers show the administration “didn’t stop the enforcement,” said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for more immigration restrictions.
asserted
which → surge → restrictions
“They changed the tactics and are, if anything, being more effective.”
asserted
They → change → tactics
State partnerships become key to immigration enforcement
The number of arrests made by state and local police departments who partner with ICE has dramatically increased over the last year.
asserted
who → become → year
Those partnerships, which ICE has grown with the help of generous financial incentives for participating agencies, accounted for 6,500 arrests in July, or about 13% of the total, the data showed.
asserted
data → grow → total
A year earlier, they accounted for less than 5% of ICE’s monthly arrests.
asserted
they → account → arrests
Texas and Florida accounted for nearly 20,000 arrests in July, highlighting the growing role of the two states in the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda.
asserted
Texas → account → agenda
Both states have expanded cooperation with ICE through so-called 287(g) agreements, which allow state and local law enforcement officers to carry out certain federal immigration enforcement duties.
asserted
officers → expand → duties
Over half of immigrants arrested had no criminal history
The Trump administration has repeatedly said its immigration enforcement operations target people who have committed crimes in the US as part of efforts to improve public safety.
asserted
who → arrest → safety
However, the data shows that more than half of those arrested in July had no criminal convictions and were not facing criminal charges.
asserted
half → show → charges
Less than a quarter had been convicted of a crime.
asserted
quarter → convict → crime
Half of the arrests were non-custodial, meaning ICE agents detained people in the community rather than taking custody of those already held in prisons or by local police.
asserted
agents → mean → police
At least 10 people have died in encounters with immigration agents since Trump returned to office and launched his immigration crackdown.
asserted
Trump → die → crackdown
