The United States recorded its highest-ever annual immigration arrests and deportations in fiscal year 2026, according to new figures released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on November 12. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported deporting 483,200 people and making more than 491,000 arrests during this period.
These unprecedented numbers reflect an intensifying immigration enforcement strategy under President Donald Trump’s administration. The agency’s 23-year history now shows FY2026 as its peak year for both arrests and removals.
Significant Surge in Deportations and Arrests
The 483,200 deportations in FY2026 represent a substantial increase of 9.2% over the 442,640 removals recorded in fiscal year 2025, an additional 40,560 people. Compared to the 271,480 deportations in FY2024, the FY2026 total is nearly 78% higher. The current deportation tally also closely matches the approximately 486,000 removals carried out across the three fiscal years under former President Joe Biden (FY2022, FY2023, and FY2024 combined).
Arrests also surged, with ICE reporting over 491,000 administrative arrests in FY2026. This figure significantly surpasses the fewer than 427,000 arrests made across fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024 combined.
Monthly Enforcement Activity Accelerates
Monthly data highlights the rapid acceleration of enforcement operations throughout the fiscal year. In June 2026, ICE recorded 43,900 arrests, followed by 50,208 in July, and a record 50,925 in August. September saw more than 48,000 arrests and approximately 44,000 removals. DHS noted that September's arrest total was over 300% higher than the average for the same month during the Biden administration.
Cases Highlighted by DHS
The DHS release also featured specific cases, including two Indian nationals arrested by ICE in FY2026, as examples of enforcement against individuals facing serious criminal allegations:
- Aman Kumar: Arrested in Fresno, California, in May after being charged with felony hit-and-run causing death or injury. He allegedly injured a four-year-old boy in an April accident and fled the scene.
- Rajinder Kumar: Arrested in April following charges of criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. He was driving a semi-truck and trailer that jackknifed in Deschutes County, Oregon, leading to a crash that killed a newlywed couple.