ICE arrests 10,000 in five days, surge in deportation push

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 10,000 people over a five-day period at the end of June, a sharp surge in arrests as the agency shifts to a quieter approach to enforcement Source: AP. The daily average of 2,000 arrests marks a significant increase from previous months, which saw around 1,200 to 1,300 arrests per day Source: AP.

Shift in strategy

After high-profile operations in cities like Minneapolis led to backlash and the firing of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE has moved to a lower-profile strategy. Border Czar Tom Homan reduced officer presence in Minnesota, and new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin endorsed a less flashy approach Source: AP. ICE leaders have instructed agents to focus on deportable immigrants rather than spectacle arrests Source: ground.news.

Detention numbers

The number of people in ICE detention also rose to roughly 39,000 in June, up from about 30,000 per month since February Source: AP. The DHS stated its commitment to arresting and deporting criminals, but critics worry about collateral arrests of non-criminal immigrants Source: AP.

Key figures

• December had the highest previous average at 1,283 arrests per day Source: AP.
• January’s crackdown in Minneapolis averaged 1,212 arrests per day Source: AP.
• February’s arrests fell to 1,057 per day Source: AP.