ICE deported 483,200 people in fiscal 2026, a 23-year record
DHS data show over 491,000 arrests; Democrats plan probes while Trump says the campaign may have been "too strict."
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported 483.200 deportations in fiscal year 2026, the highest total in the agency's 23-year history, according to data published by the Department of Homeland Security. The fiscal year ended on 30 September, and the same dataset recorded more than 491.000 arrests tied to immigration enforcement.
Enforcement figures and what they show
The 483.200 deportations mark an increase of roughly 9 percent over the previous high of 442.640 in fiscal 2025. Of the more than 491.000 arrests, nearly 475.000 were classified as administrative — actions taken for alleged immigration violations rather than for criminal charges.
Observers pointed out gaps in the public numbers. "It is not clear from the released figures how many of the deported were apprehended inside the United States and how many were returned directly from the border or airports," said Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington.
President Donald Trump, speaking in an interview with CBS, acknowledged that the campaign might have been "too strict" while defending his administration's approach to immigration. Polling by Reuters and Ipsos shows public approval for the way Trump has handled immigration has slipped from 50 percent at the start of his term to 38 percent.
Meanwhile, Democrats — who won majorities in both chambers of Congress in the recent midterm elections — say they will probe ICE's methods and push for expanded legal pathways to stay. Reuters reported that proposals from Democrats could face a presidential veto.
Photo: press material from the event
