U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 483,200 people during fiscal year 2026, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) figures obtained by CBS News. This total represents the highest annual deportation figure in the agency's reported history, surpassing the previous record of 442,640 set in fiscal year 2025. ICE also reported more than 491,000 immigration arrests during the fiscal year that ended September 30, which included nearly 475,000 administrative arrests for civil violations.
The 2026 deportation total is approximately 18% higher than the 409,849 removals recorded in fiscal year 2012 and nearly 78% higher than the 271,484 deportations in fiscal year 2024. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the agency’s arrest total for fiscal year 2026 exceeded the combined totals of the three full fiscal years of the Biden administration. Mullin attributed the increase to President Trump's leadership, stating that the agency has been tasked with targeting and removing undocumented immigrants.
While the administration has highlighted the deportation of individuals convicted of violent crimes, such as murder and sexual assault, other data indicates a broader scope of enforcement. A CBS News analysis found that in July 2026, more than half of ICE arrests involved individuals with no criminal convictions or pending charges. Research from the Migration Policy Institute indicated that of the approximately 980,000 deportations carried out by ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) between January 2025 and July 2026, roughly 20% involved individuals with criminal convictions.
Recent reporting indicates that ICE officials have been directed to aim for approximately 19,000 arrests per week. This directive follows the July 2025 signing of a tax and spending law that allocated roughly $170 billion for immigration enforcement and border security. The funding included $75 billion for ICE, with $45 billion for detention capacity and nearly $30 billion for personnel, transportation, and arrest operations.
The financial scale of this policy is reflected in the $170 billion allocated by Congress in 2025. For the average taxpayer, this represents a significant commitment of federal resources toward the expansion of the law enforcement footprint, including $45 billion dedicated to increasing the number of people held in immigrant detention centers. These funds are already appropriated, meaning the operational capacity for arrests and removals is likely to remain high regardless of the shifts in congressional leadership following the 2026 midterm elections.
What happens next depends on the interaction between the executive branch and the new Congress. President Trump has expressed interest in working with congressional Democrats, who will take control of both chambers in January 2027, to create new immigration legislation. However, the appointment of Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff suggests the administration may continue its current enforcement pace. While Democrats have signaled plans for increased scrutiny of ICE spending and tactics, the multi-billion dollar budget already authorized through 2025 provides the agency with sustained operational funding.