Immigration enforcement in the United States has intensified, with 49,571 people arrested by ICE in July 2026, according to the latest government data.

The figure represents a significant increase from the 43,021 arrests recorded in June, marking a rise of around 15%. It is also the highest number of monthly immigration arrests recorded during President Donald Trump's second term.

Arrests Surge Compared With February

July's arrests were nearly 70% higher than the 29,241 arrests recorded in February.

The sharp rise reflects the Trump administration's intensified efforts to enforce immigration laws and crack down on people living in the country without legal status.

Texas and Florida See Large Numbers

Texas and Florida accounted for nearly 20,000 arrests in July.

Both states have expanded cooperation with federal immigration authorities through 287(g) agreements, which allow designated state and local law enforcement officers to assist with certain immigration enforcement activities.

Around 6,500 arrests in July were carried out through partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies.

ICE Expands Enforcement Operations

ICE enforcement operations have taken place in a range of locations, including traffic stops, airports, immigration offices and courthouses, in addition to targeted operations.

The expanded enforcement approach has sparked renewed debate over the scope of immigration enforcement across the country.

Many Arrested Had No Criminal Convictions

Government data and immigration-policy analyses indicate that more than half of those arrested in July had no criminal conviction or pending criminal charges.

Immigration advocates have raised concerns about the growing number of arrests involving people who do not have serious criminal records.

Around 1,600 Arrests Every Day

The July figure translates to an average of approximately 1,600 immigration arrests per day.

During the same month, the US also removed roughly 34,000 people from the country, according to available immigration enforcement data.

Debate Over Trump's Immigration Policy

The Trump administration has made stricter immigration enforcement a major policy priority, arguing that tougher action is necessary to control illegal immigration and strengthen national security.

However, immigrant-rights organisations and immigration lawyers have criticised the approach, warning that asylum seekers and people without criminal histories can also become targets of enforcement actions.