Overview
- The Department of Homeland Security released FY2026 totals on Thursday showing 483,200 people deported and roughly 474,850–475,000 arrests during the year that ended Sept. 30, 2026.
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE credited the numbers to President Trump’s directives, saying the agency has been empowered to locate and remove undocumented immigrants.
- Independent analysts at TRAC and multiple news outlets questioned the counting methods, finding formal expulsions were about 63 percent of reported removals in July–August and noting the DHS release omitted a breakdown of criminal histories.
- Rights groups and reporters flagged operational risks after several deaths were linked to enforcement actions during the fiscal year, prompting calls for investigations into detention conditions and tactics.
- With Democrats set to control Congress, lawmakers are preparing oversight and spending reviews, while the White House’s appointment of Stephen Miller signals the administration plans to continue aggressive enforcement.