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US reports record number of deportations and arrests in 2026
The US Department of Homeland Security says Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 483,200 people and made more than 491,000 immigration arrests in fiscal year 2026, setting records in the agency’s 23-year history. The figures highlight the scale of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, which he has recently acknowledged may have been “too tough”, and which is becoming a political vulnerability.
ICE reported more than 48,000 arrests in September, after a record 50,925 in August. Researcher Steven Camarota said the figures are difficult to assess because they do not clarify how many cases involved arrests inside the US or people turned back at borders or airports. Reuters/Ipsos polling puts Trump’s approval on immigration at 38 per cent, down from 50 per cent at the start of his presidency; Democrats say they plan to scrutinise ICE and seek changes when they take control of Congress next year.
In short
- ICE reported 483,200 deportations in fiscal year 2026.
- The total exceeds the previous record of 442,640 in 2025.
- Democrats plan to scrutinise enforcement when they control Congress.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that record deportations and arrests show the government is enforcing immigration law at scale and following through on a mandate to reduce unauthorised immigration. They may see stronger enforcement as necessary to uphold the rule of law, deter future unlawful entry and reassure communities that the border and immigration system are being managed.
The case against
Critics argue that the scale of enforcement risks sweeping up people without adequate regard for individual circumstances or fair process, and that the figures themselves are hard to assess without clearer information about where and how arrests occurred. They may also question whether such a tough approach is proportionate, particularly given Trump’s own acknowledgement that it may have gone too far and the reported decline in public approval.
Explained simply
The United States has two main immigration enforcement agencies: Customs and Border Protection handles the borders, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, operates within the country and carries out removals. A deportation is the formal removal of someone who does not have permission to remain in the US.
ICE’s enforcement role has grown under President Donald Trump, whose administration has made tougher immigration controls a central policy. The figures are used to assess the scale of enforcement, though they do not show where all the arrests took place or the circumstances of each case.
Immigration policy affects people living in the US, communities and employers, and is a major issue in national politics. Congress can oversee federal agencies and influence their funding and rules, so lawmakers’ views may shape how ICE operates.