ICE Deportations Hits Records Levels

U.S. Deportations Under Trump May Reach Highest Level Since Obama Era.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is on track to record the highest number of deportations since the Obama administration. In the first six months of President Donald Trump’s new term, ICE recorded nearly 150,000 deportations — averaging more than 800 per day. If this pace continues, the agency could surpass 300,000 deportations by the end of the year, marking the highest annual total since fiscal year 2014, when 316,000 people were deported. The all-time record remains 410,000 deportations in 2012 under Obama.

Despite the surge, the current number still falls short of the Trump administration’s target of 1 million annual deportations, underscoring the legal and operational challenges faced by administrations from both parties in enforcing immigration laws.

Established after the 9/11 attacks, ICE is responsible for deporting individuals who are in the U.S. unlawfully or have lost legal status, including due to crimes or immigration fraud. Trump’s recent legislative package, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, allocated $45 billion for new detention centers and $30 billion to fund every stage of the deportation process.

The Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the agency’s goal of 1 million deportations per year is “definitely possible” with the new funding. Plans include hiring 10,000 new agents to locate and arrest individuals in violation of immigration law.

Other federal agencies also conduct deportations. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported over 112,000 deportations during Trump’s first six months in office, largely involving migrants who crossed the southern border illegally. Border crossings have dropped to levels not seen since the 1960s, reflecting the administration’s aggressive enforcement.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also reported over 13,000 self-deportations, encouraged by a government app offering a $1,000 bonus for voluntary departure and warnings about detention, fines, and possible prosecution for those who refuse to leave.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed that, including deportations and self-deportations, over 280,000 people have already been repatriated since Trump returned to office.

Trump’s administration has expanded ICE’s powers significantly, reversing Biden-era limits, involving other federal agencies and even the military, and revoking humanitarian protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants.

ICE has recently reached record levels of detention, with over 57,000 individuals in custody awaiting deportation. Arrests have doubled compared to Trump’s first 100 days, though still below the daily goal of 3,000 set by senior adviser Stephen Miller.

Although ICE highlights arrest of immigrants with violent criminal histories, the agency has also detained asylum seekers, workers, and undocumented individuals with no criminal record — drawing harsh criticism from Democrats and sparking protests, especially in Southern California.

The public support for mass deportations is declining, with growing concerns that enforcement efforts are not prioritizing dangerous criminals. Despite this, Acting Director Lyons affirmed that any individual found unlawfully in the U.S. will be detained and processed for removal. “We have opened up the whole aperture of the immigration portfolio,” he said.