US reports record number of deportations and arrests in 2026

What the report says

The US Department of Homeland Security said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out 483,200 deportations and more than 491,000 immigration arrests in fiscal year 2026, according to Al Jazeera’s reporting on the agency’s latest figures. The total deportations marked a record in ICE’s 23-year history, topping the previous high set in 2025. DHS also said September 2026 was ICE’s strongest September on record for arrests, with more than 48,000 that month after an August peak of 50,925.

The data comes as President Donald Trump has publicly described parts of his immigration crackdown as potentially “too tough,” even as he defended the effort as focused on removing people he considers dangerous. Al Jazeera noted that immigration enforcement has become a political issue, with Trump’s approval on the subject declining in recent Reuters/Ipsos polling.

The report also described growing criticism from Democrats, who are preparing to investigate ICE tactics when they gain control of Congress next year. Incoming House Homeland Security Committee chair Bennie Thompson said lawmakers plan to examine the administration’s use of DHS, while other Democrats signaled they want to expand legal pathways and focus deportation efforts on criminals. Al Jazeera also referenced recent protests and incidents involving immigration enforcement, including widely circulated footage from Minneapolis, as part of the broader backdrop to the debate.