The Trump administration has significantly ramped up its immigration enforcement efforts, with ICE arresting a record 49,571 people in July 2026. This surge, averaging 1,599 apprehensions per day represents a 15% increase from the previous month and the highest monthly total since October 2026.
Unlike the high-profile, militarized raids of the past, the current strategy is more subdued but equally effective. Immigration advocates and attorneys report a shift towards quieter, more targeted operations, making it challenging for communities to discern the extent of enforcement activities.
Shift in Enforcement Tactics
The administration has moved away from the confrontational style of its predecessor, opting for a more discreet approach. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has pledged to meet deportation goals while keeping the department out of the headlines. This strategy includes arresting immigrants at airportsICE check-ins and immigration courthouses.
Melissa Shepard, director of legal services at ImmDef notes that ICE is being ‘creative’ in its enforcement methods. ‘They are looking for any way to continue to detain people,’ she says. This includes advising even clients with valid immigration statuses to avoid flying due to the increased risk of enforcement.
Record Highs in Arrests and Removals
July 2026 saw a record number of arrests and removals. Nearly 34,000 people were removed from the US, the highest since the start of Trump’s second term. Despite the administration’s focus on targeting criminals, a record 51% of arrestees had no prior criminal history.
The surge in arrests is fueled by a $70 billion funding boost for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which oversees ICE and Border Patrol. The administration aims to arrest 2,000 people daily a goal that seems within reach given the current trajectory.
Impact on Communities and Advocacy Groups
The administration’s enforcement efforts have had a significant impact on communities, particularly those with large immigrant populations. In Springfield, Ohio for example, Haitians with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have been called into ICE offices and fitted with ankle monitors. The first deportation flight to Haiti since the Supreme Court decision landed last week, signaling the end of protections for many.
Advocacy groups and attorneys are recalibrating their strategies to track enforcement and provide assistance. Volunteer groups that documented ICE arrests during the militarized raids of last winter are now adapting to the quieter, more dispersed enforcement tactics.
The end of TPS for Salvadorans in September is expected to further escalate enforcement activities. Melissa Shepard expresses concern about the future, stating, ‘I think we are at the precipice.’
The administration’s enforcement powers have also been boosted by the rapidly expanding 287(g) program which deputizes local law enforcement agencies to carry out immigration enforcement. This program has been praised by Secretary Mullin as ‘the greatest partnership we can have’ and is a key part of his goal to conduct enforcement in a ‘more quiet way’.
