ICE Deports 200K Migrants Since Trump's Return, Sets Highest Deportation Rate in Decade

ICE deported nearly 200,000 migrants in the first 7 months of Trump's administration, marking the highest rate of removals in at least a decade. This is part of the overall 350,000 deportations recorded since Trump returned to office in January. The deportations are part of the administration's immigration crackdown.

In the first seven months of Donald Trump's second term, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported nearly 200,000 migrants, marking the highest rate of removals in at least a decade [1]. This figure is part of the overall 350,000 deportations recorded since Trump returned to office in January, as reported by a senior Homeland Security official. The administration's immigration crackdown includes actions by ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Coast Guard, with ICE alone accounting for a significant portion of these removals.

The deportation numbers are a stark contrast to the previous administration. Prior to Trump's return to office, ICE had already recorded around 71,400 deportations between October 2024 and the end of December [1]. Including these, ICE could surpass 300,000 deportations in fiscal year 2025, which ends September 30. The last time the agency recorded such a high number was under President Barack Obama, when around 316,000 people were removed in fiscal year 2014 [1].

The Trump administration has enlisted multiple federal agencies to bolster immigration enforcement operations nationwide. CBP, responsible for border security, recorded more than 132,000 deportations this year and tracked around 17,500 self-deportations [1]. Taken together with ICE’s actions, this amounts to nearly 350,000 deportations in the first seven months of Trump’s second term.

ICE is preparing to receive a massive infusion of cash, which is likely to supercharge its operations. When Trump signed his agenda bill into law over the summer, it set up ICE to be the most well-funded police force in the federal government over the next four years [1]. ICE alone is set to receive nearly $75 billion through 2029, including about $45 billion to increase capacity at immigration detention centers and $30 billion for enforcement and removal [1].

The administration has also been actively encouraging voluntary departures through multimillion-dollar ad campaigns and financial incentives. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has credited the president for his "strong message" in a White House Cabinet meeting [1].

Despite these efforts, the number of deportations falls short of the administration's goal of one million per year. The task of removing people in historic numbers has proven challenging due to limited resources and personnel. The administration continues to face criticism for its immigration policies, with senior officials expressing frustration with the agency's lag in immigration arrests [1].

References:
[1] CNN. (2025, January 30). Trump immigration crackdown: ICE deportations surge under second term. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/28/politics/ice-deportations-immigrants-trump
[2] Newsmax. (2025, August 21). Trump administration deporting 1,500 people per day. Retrieved from https://www.newsmax.com/us/donald-trump-immigration-ice/2025/08/21/id/1223441/
[3] MarketBeat. (2025, August 25). Comerica Bank reduces holdings in Intercontinental Exchange Inc. Retrieved from https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/filing-comerica-bank-sells-10936-shares-of-intercontinental-exchange-inc-ice-2025-08-25/