Immigration and Customs Enforcement set new records for arrests and deportations of illegal aliens during fiscal year 2026, delivering enforcement numbers that surpassed the agency’s previous benchmarks. The fiscal year ended with September.

The Department of Homeland Security announced the results in a November 12 press release celebrating the agency’s performance. ICE confirmed more than 491,000 immigration arrests and more than 483,000 deportations during the fiscal year.

ICE SHATTERS ARREST AND DEPORTATION RECORDS IN FY 2026

ICE recorded more than 491,000 immigration arrests and 483,000 deportations in FY 2026 — the highest totals in agency history, with more than EIGHT times as many deportations and SIX times as many arrests as in Biden’s first fiscal year, and more than TWICE as many deportations as in Obama’s final full fiscal year. Under President Trump’s leadership, ICE has been unleashed to remove illegal aliens and deliver on the mandate of the American people. The patriots of ICE are delivering historic results, and the work to MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN will not slow down! — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) November 12, 2026

Those totals established new records for both enforcement categories. They also marked a sharp departure from the immigration enforcement figures reported during the Biden administration.

The previous deportation record belonged to fiscal year 2025, when ICE reported 442,640 deportations. The fiscal year 2026 total therefore exceeded the previous record by more than 40,000.

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The Department of Homeland Security emphasized the contrast between the latest results and those recorded under the Biden administration. DHS argued that immigration enforcement had been scarce during those years as millions of unvetted foreign nationals entered the United States.

The fiscal year 2026 deportation total nearly matched the combined figure from the three full fiscal years of the Biden administration. Fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024 produced a combined 486,000 deportations.

ICE’s latest annual deportation total was also more than eight times the number recorded during Biden’s first fiscal year. Fiscal year 2021 saw just over 59,000 deportations, according to the figures included in the announcement.

The arrest comparison was similarly striking. ICE’s more than 491,000 arrests during fiscal year 2026 surpassed the combined total from fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Those three full fiscal years under the Biden administration produced fewer than 427,000 arrests combined. The fiscal year 2026 figure was also more than six times the just over 74,000 arrests recorded in fiscal year 2021.

September closed the fiscal year with another forceful enforcement showing. ICE completed 48,000 arrests and 44,000 removals during that month alone.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin praised ICE personnel after the figures were released. “I couldn’t be prouder of the brave men and women of ICE, who just broke more historic records,” Mullin said.

The secretary also highlighted the agency’s September performance. “September 2026 was the best September in ICE’s history in terms of arrests.”

The record breaking totals came as ICE personnel faced resistance from leaders in numerous sanctuary states, cities, and counties. The source also cited interference from thousands of violent rioters and dozens of activist groups opposed to immigration enforcement.

According to the agency, assaults against ICE personnel had increased by more than 1,600% as of October. Vehicular attacks had increased by 3,300%, while death threats against ICE personnel had surged by 8,000%.

Those figures illustrate the dangers facing ICE officers as they carry out immigration enforcement duties. The source specifically pointed to threats posed by illegal alien criminals and domestic terrorists.

ILLEGAL ALIEN ARRESTED AFTER DRAGGING AND STRIKING ICE OFFICER WITH VEHICLE

Jose Garnica-Naranjo, a Mexican illegal alien convicted of domestic violence and assault, refused to turn off his vehicle during a targeted ICE operation in Illinois. As officers attempted to remove him, he hit the gas with an officer partially inside the driver-side window, throwing him from the vehicle before striking him as he fled. The officer was hospitalized and has since been released. Garnica-Naranjo was arrested and is now in custody. This is the result of extremist, anti-American rhetoric from radical politicians that has driven a more than 1,600% increase in assaults against ICE officers. The men and women of ICE risk their lives every day to protect our homeland. Violence against our officers will NOT be tolerated. Anyone who assaults them WILL face justice. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) November 12, 2026

Even amid those threats and organized resistance, ICE arrested and deported more illegal aliens than ever before. The agency finished fiscal year 2026 with records in both categories and a September that Mullin called the best September in ICE history for arrests.

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