ICE Sets New Record with Largest Two-Day Immigration Arrest Surge Under Trump's Expanded Enforcement Policies

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) achieved a new milestone on Wednesday by carrying out a record-setting 2,368 arrests of individuals residing illegally in the United States. According to a senior ICE official, this figure surpasses Tuesday's total of 2,267 arrests, marking an unprecedented surge in daily enforcement activity and outpacing last week's average of roughly 1,600 daily arrests.

The sharp increase in enforcement comes as the White House pursues an aggressive target of 3,000 ICE arrests each day. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller publicly stated at the end of May that the administration has set a minimum daily goal and did not rule out the possibility of raising that number even further. These numbers signal a significant intensification of federal efforts to curb illegal immigration, with a particular focus on expanding ICE operations nationwide.

Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan commented on the agency's progress, stating: "The numbers are good, but I’m not satisfied. I haven’t been satisfied all year long," indicating that leadership continues to push for even higher arrest totals. The recent uptick can be attributed to a surge in worksite enforcement—targeting businesses suspected of hiring undocumented workers—as well as increased arrests during immigration court proceedings. In addition to targeted actions, ICE has expanded the use of collateral arrests, meaning individuals not initially targeted by an operation may be detained if found with a target at the time of arrest.

The administration's strategy is closely tied to pending legislation in Congress. ICE sources note that if the reconciliation bill passes with funding allocated for 10,000 additional ICE personnel and tens of thousands more detention beds, the agency anticipates its daily arrest numbers will be “supercharged and shoot through the roof.” The debate on this bill remains active in the Senate, with the White House reaffirming its commitment to the bill’s border and immigration-related provisions, including measures to double ICE detention capacity, finish the border wall, and impose new taxes on remittances sent abroad by undocumented migrants.

Deputy Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Communications Director Alex Pfeiffer highlighted the scope of the proposed legislation, emphasizing its potential to transform U.S. immigration enforcement. "It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to crack down on illegal immigration," Pfeiffer stated, pointing to provisions that would boost ICE personnel by 50% and significantly expand the agency’s operational capacity.

These sweeping enforcement actions come as part of a broader shift in immigration policy under the Trump administration, reversing several Biden-era approaches. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has granted more waivers for border wall construction in Arizona and New Mexico this week, while President Trump issued a new travel ban affecting several countries, following recent security concerns linked to individuals overstaying their visas.

With arrests soaring to 7,400 in the past nine days alone, and policy changes continuing to unfold, the United States faces an evolving landscape on immigration enforcement. As Congress deliberates on further expansion of ICE resources, both supporters and critics are closely watching the impact on communities and the broader debate over immigration policy in America.