Trump’s immigration crackdown sees backlash as ICE arrests plunge 20% in July
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 07, 2025, 00:03 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Highlight of the story: President Trump's intensified immigration enforcement in July 2025 saw a surprising decrease in ICE arrests by nearly 20%, despite efforts to increase them. Widespread protests against controversial raids and legal challenges restricted ICE's operations, particularly in Southern California. While arrests declined, deportations increased, highlighting the administration's shifting strategies amid logistical and legal obstacles.
President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration push in July 2025 appears to have backfired, as arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents dropped nearly 20%, even amid efforts to ramp them up. According to data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), ICE made significantly fewer arrests despite increased enforcement orders.
The decline in arrests followed widespread protests in June—especially in Southern California—against controversial ICE raids involving masked agents in plain clothes. These operations sparked outrage across immigrant communities, drawing legal scrutiny and court orders that ultimately restricted ICE’s ability to carry out certain tactics.
Although Trump’s administration aimed to escalate arrests, confusion over shifting enforcement priorities—including whether to pause operations in key sectors like agriculture and hospitality—led to a drop in field activity. The average number of daily ICE arrests fell from 1,224 in June to just 990 in July, according to the report, far below the 3,000 daily goal pushed by White House immigration advisor Stephen Miller.
In contrast to the drop in arrests, deportations actually increased in July, with approximately 84 more removals per day compared to June. Over 18,000 people were deported in June alone. The Department of Homeland Security noted that while deportations rose, the number of individuals in ICE custody slightly decreased—from 57,861 to 56,945 over four weeks.
Court interventions played a significant role in the downturn. A federal appeals court upheld restrictions on certain ICE practices, limiting aggressive raids and targeting procedures, especially in Southern California. The Trump administration faced additional criticism after reports revealed that several U.S. citizens—mostly Latinos—were mistakenly detained, fueling accusations of racial profiling.
The raids, labeled by immigrant rights groups as the “Summer of ICE,” drew sharp condemnation for their secretive and often traumatic execution. Many individuals were taken without warning, leaving behind children, pets, and work tools. Civil rights organizations have filed lawsuits claiming that the administration deliberately targeted brown-skinned individuals during these operations.
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin acknowledged the drop in arrests but defended ICE’s focus on detaining violent criminals. However, as of July 27, 71% of those in ICE custody had not been convicted of any crime. Most of those who had were charged with minor offenses like traffic violations.
Despite Trump’s aggressive push, ICE enforcement is now facing both logistical and legal roadblocks. With rising political backlash and operational confusion, the administration’s immigration strategy may require a significant recalibration ahead of the 2026 election season.