In a dramatic update from the White House, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reportedly on course to arrest almost one million illegal immigrants by the end of President Trump’s term—an impressive figure that still falls short of Trump’s ambitious deportation goals. This development comes amid renewed efforts by House and Senate Republicans to bolster border security measures, tighten deportation protocols, and secure additional funding in an upcoming spending package.
According to recent reports, as the Trump administration pushes forward with a sweeping agenda for mass deportations, ICE has shifted its public reporting strategy. The agency, which previously updated daily arrest and detainer numbers on its social media accounts, has ceased these regular postings. Instead, its official channels now focus on spotlighting the apprehension of the most dangerous criminal figures. Despite the change in reporting style, border czar Tom Homan insists that ICE’s enforcement operations remain robust and that the arrest numbers have not diminished.
Before February 1, ICE was in the habit of posting daily figures detailing the number of arrests and detainers across the nation. However, in a recent update on its X (formerly Twitter) account, the agency announced a pivot in focus. The most recent update covering January 31 reported 864 arrests and 621 detainers, following an initial count of 538 arrests on January 23. On January 27, daily arrests peaked at 1,179. Even with these reporting changes, Homan reassured the public that ICE’s efforts are progressing steadily. “I think the arrest numbers I looked at this morning are over 11,000 since day one,” Homan told reporters on Thursday. This figure, calculated from January 20 onward (excluding Thursday’s numbers), averages nearly 650 arrests per day. Should this pace continue, ICE would be set to round up nearly one million illegal immigrants by the end of Trump’s administration.
Notably, President Trump has publicly set a far more aggressive goal—aiming to deport as many as 20 times the number of individuals currently slated for arrest. While that target remains aspirational, recent trends in the pace of arrests indicate an accelerating effort. The latter half of Trump’s first 10 days in office has shown a noticeable uptick in enforcement activity. Homan also pointed out that daily arrests at the southern border have begun to decline, partly due to a reduction in new arrivals, which in turn has allowed ICE to concentrate its resources more effectively on ongoing operations.
The push for mass deportations is tightly linked to broader Republican efforts in Congress. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are advocating for the inclusion of specific provisions addressing border security, deportation policies, and increased funding within the upcoming government spending package. These measures are expected to significantly enhance ICE’s operational capabilities and accelerate the pace of arrests, as they would inject much-needed resources into the agency at a critical juncture.
However, the aggressive enforcement strategy is not without its challenges. Border czar Tom Homan has been grappling with operational hurdles, particularly related to capacity issues and the leak of sensitive information. Earlier this week, Homan confirmed that ICE’s planned raid on apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado, was compromised by a leak. As a result, agents arrived at the location only to find empty apartments and a contingent of protesters waiting. Homan expressed his frustration with the breach of operational security, noting, “We’ve already identified how this operation got leaked. I’ll deal with that today.”
To mitigate further leaks and protect the integrity of future operations, Homan indicated that ICE might restrict media access. “We’ve invited numerous media outlets along, but right now it’s all about operational security,” he explained. “We may have to stop the media ride-alongs to ensure our agents can carry out their duties safely.” This decision underscores the high stakes involved in ICE’s enforcement actions and the delicate balance between transparency and operational security.
The ongoing developments at the White House reflect the broader challenges of enforcing immigration laws in a rapidly changing environment. While the Trump administration’s deportation goals remain highly ambitious, the current trajectory of ICE’s activities demonstrates a clear commitment to intensifying enforcement efforts. As lawmakers push for legislative changes to bolster these initiatives, and as ICE adapts its reporting and operational strategies to meet evolving challenges, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the administration’s goals can be met.
For now, with nearly 11,000 arrests recorded since the start of the term and an average nearing 650 per day, the Trump administration is sending a strong message: it is determined to crack down on illegal immigration. Whether or not this will ultimately result in nearly one million arrests remains to be seen, but the momentum is unmistakably on the side of aggressive enforcement.
