The administration of President Donald Trump has surpassed all previous records for the deportation of immigrants from the United States. In the 2026 fiscal year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 483,200 individuals. During the same period, more than 491,000 immigrants were arrested.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released this information last Wednesday.
In the 23-year history of ICE, never before have so many people been deported in a single fiscal year. The previous record was set in 2025, with 442,640 deportations; the Trump administration has now exceeded that figure.
These statistics were released just days after Trump acknowledged that his administration’s anti-immigration operations might have been “excessively harsh.”
In a statement, a DHS official noted, “Fiscal year 2026 saw the highest number of immigrant arrests and deportations in the history of ICE. September 2026 also marked the most active September for arrests in the agency’s history.”
ICE reported that over 48,000 immigrants were arrested in September, following 50,925 arrests in August. After two consecutive months of record-high arrests, the number saw a slight decline in September.
Questions Regarding the Statistics
Steven Camarota, Director of Research at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), told Al Jazeera that there is no doubt the Trump administration has been more rigorous in enforcing immigration laws than any of its predecessors. He added that there is evidence suggesting the population of undocumented immigrants has decreased significantly, as more people have chosen to leave the U.S. voluntarily out of fear of law enforcement.
However, he pointed out that there are ambiguities in the statistics released by the Department of Homeland Security.
“Such data is almost always incomplete and difficult to measure accurately,” Camarota said. “What I still don’t understand from the figures released is what percentage of those arrested or deported were taken into custody during operations conducted within the United States, what percentage were deported from within the country, and what percentage were turned away at the border or at airports.”
He added that an increase in the number of deportations could encourage people to return to their home countries—a key objective of the Trump administration, which seeks to compel people to leave the United States.
“Excessively Harsh” Immigration Policy
Trump recently acknowledged that his administration’s immigration policy might be “excessively harsh.”
In an interview on CBS’s *60 Minutes*, he remarked, “Many would say it’s great. But to others, it might seem overly harsh.”
Nevertheless, Trump maintains that his administration’s anti-immigration operations have been successful. “I would get very high marks for removing people from the country,” he said. “My record on removing the ‘bad guys’ is excellent. However, my image has suffered because we have also deported people who held good jobs—their only ‘crime’ was entering the country illegally.”
Trump’s popularity regarding immigration has also declined. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, support for his stance on the issue has fallen to 38 percent, down from 50 percent when he first took office.
Democrats Threaten to Curb ICE Operations
Upon gaining control of Congress next year, the Democratic Party may take steps to halt Trump’s anti-immigration operations. They plan to increase oversight of the tactics and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while also seeking to expand opportunities for immigrants to reside in the United States legally. However, their ability to implement these measures will be limited.
Bennie Thompson, a Democratic leader from Mississippi, is set to become the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. In a statement to Reuters, he said, “We will investigate the administration regarding its use of the Department of Homeland Security as a political weapon against Americans, as well as its unchecked immigration policies.”
At a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, Henry Cuellar—a moderate Democratic representative from Texas—spoke alongside other elected officials and current lawmakers from states along the southwestern border. He noted that he had already held discussions with Trump administration officials concerning the deportation of individuals involved in criminal activity.
“We will not take an extremist stance,” Cuellar stated, while also referencing conservative American voters who cast their ballots for the Democrats in this election.
However, some other party leaders took a much harder line. During a victory celebration in Minnesota, newly elected Senator Peggy Flanagan declared, “We are going to tear ICE apart.”
Last January, during intensified anti-immigration operations in Minnesota, two individuals—Alex Pretty and Renee Nicole Good—were shot and killed by federal immigration agents. Both were U.S. citizens. The separate incidents in Minneapolis, in which they were shot and killed, were captured on video by bystanders.
The videos spread widely across social media, sparking outrage even at the international level. Furthermore, other released footage shows masked immigration officials using chemical agents and assaulting civilians—some of whom were recording the officials’ actions, while others were protesting. Under the United States Constitution, such activities are recognized as protected rights.
