Trump Administration Sees Surge in Immigration Arrests During First Month

Over 20,000 undocumented immigrants were arrested in January, a sharp increase compared to previous years, as new policies prioritize enforcement and deportations.

The Department of Homeland Security reported over 20,000 undocumented immigrant arrests in January 2025, a sevenfold increase compared to monthly averages under the Biden administration.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem credited the rise to stricter immigration enforcement policies and the reversal of several Biden-era directives that limited ICE operations.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has expanded detention capacity, including opening federal prison facilities, as arrests outpace available resources.
Customs and Border Protection reported a significant drop in border crossings, with fewer than 200 undocumented migrants encountered at the southern border in a single day, the lowest in over 15 years.
Critics note challenges such as sanctuary city policies and limited deportation cooperation from some countries, while advocates express concerns over humanitarian impacts.