ICE reports record-high immigration arrests and deportations since Trump's return to White House

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency reported record-high immigration arrests and deportations during the last fiscal year, marking the highest number in its 23-year history, according to a report released by Homeland Security on Thursday. President Donald Trump's administration continued with its pledge of mass deportations, which played a significant role in his re-election in 2024.

However, this has also led to political backlash that contributed to Democrats' sweeping victories in the recent midterm elections.

The figures released by the department signify the substantial funding allocated to boost immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, including increased resources for deportation officers, detention facilities, and deportation flights. Despite these efforts, Democratic members of Congress, energized by their substantial wins in both the House and Senate, are vowing to closely monitor the agency, which serves as a key component of the president's mass deportation strategy.

ICE revealed that they deported a total of 483,200 individuals during the fiscal year that concluded on September 30. This figure is significantly higher than the 405,090 deportations carried out under President Barack Obama in 2014, a period when some activists referred to him as the "deporter in chief."