Trump Breaks Record On Illegals

During the first 50 days of his second term, President Donald Trump significantly increased arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), more than doubling the daily rate seen under President Joe Biden’s administration. Newly released figures show that between January 20 and March 10, ICE agents made 32,809 migrant arrests marking a dramatic shift in immigration enforcement policies.

Under the previous administration, ICE detained approximately 255 people per day. While the new surge in arrests represents a sharp increase, the numbers still fall slightly short of Trump’s campaign pledge to conduct the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. He had previously referenced “Operation Wetback,” a controversial 1954 program that removed an estimated one million undocumented immigrants.

At the current rate, ICE could make over 950,000 arrests within four years. However, not all of those detained will necessarily be deported. Analysts estimate that more than 11 million undocumented immigrants currently live in the United States. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on January 29 that the administration views all undocumented individuals as criminals because they “illegally broke our nation’s laws.”

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have also accused the Biden administration of manipulating data to obscure the actual number of arrests. They allege that the previous administration inflated arrest figures while simultaneously allowing thousands of undocumented immigrants to remain in the country under catch-and-release policies.

According to ICE data, 33,242 at-large arrests—those made outside of jails and border checkpoints were recorded in fiscal year 2024. In the first 50 days of Trump’s second term, ICE has nearly matched that total, with 32,809 at-large arrests already carried out. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons emphasized that the agency is returning to its core mission of enforcing immigration laws, adding that both he and Homeland Security Secretary Noman are focused on creating a culture of action and accountability within ICE.

Among those arrested, 14,111 individuals had prior criminal convictions, while 9,980 are facing pending charges. An additional 8,718 were taken into custody for immigration violations. ICE also reported that 1,555 of those detained were suspected gang members, 44 were foreign fugitives, and 39 were identified as known or suspected terrorists.

Officials have yet to confirm how many of these arrests have led to deportations, stating that they are still compiling that data. Meanwhile, the surge in enforcement has put immense pressure on detention facilities, which are currently holding 47,600 undocumented immigrants their full capacity. Authorities are working with the Department of Defense to expand detention space to accommodate the growing number of detainees.

Acting ICE Director Lyons emphasized that this increase in enforcement is only the beginning. He noted that ICE has already surpassed last year’s at-large criminal arrests and expects these numbers to rise further. According to Lyons, the administration is committed to reversing policies from the past four years, ensuring stricter immigration enforcement, and discouraging illegal crossings into the United States.