Trump’s Immigration Crack Down Is Getting Bigger and Faster

Trump’s immigration crackdown has deported 20,000 illegal migrants in just one month, rivaling Biden’s entire previous year total, as border crossings plummet to historic lows.

At a Glance

  • The Trump administration has removed 20,000 illegal migrants in its first month, nearly matching the entire previous year’s deportations under Biden
  • Border Patrol arrests have fallen 39% in January to 21,593, the lowest level since May 2020
  • Border Czar Tom Homan reported daily border arrests dropping to 229, the lowest he’s seen in his career since 1984
  • ICE arrested 33,000 illegal immigrants in fiscal year 2024 but faces detention space challenges
  • If current trends continue, border crossings could reach 60-year lows, with recent figures below 200 per day

Trump Administration Rapidly Accelerates Deportations

The Department of Homeland Security has intensified immigration enforcement across the country, resulting in the deportation of 20,000 illegal migrants in the Trump administration’s first month. This dramatic increase in removals nearly equals the total number of illegal migrants apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement throughout the entire previous year under the Biden administration. During fiscal year 2024, ICE arrested 33,000 at-large illegal immigrants throughout the United States.

The recent enforcement operations have targeted various locations, including a recent operation in Colony Ridge, Texas, where authorities apprehended 118 illegal migrants, including individuals with criminal records. Despite these numbers, administration officials have indicated they aim to further accelerate the pace of arrests and deportations in the coming months.

Border Crossings Plummet Under Trump’s Policies

Arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico decreased by 39% in January compared to December, with Border Patrol making 21,593 arrests, down from 47,316 the previous month. January’s figures represent the lowest level since May 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. While border arrests had already been declining from a high of 250,000 in December 2023, the administration has pointed to a significant acceleration in this downward trend since Trump took office.

Border Czar Tom Homan reported just 229 arrests in a 24-hour period, the lowest he has witnessed since becoming a Border Patrol agent in 1984. This dramatic decrease follows President Trump’s inauguration on January 20 and his subsequent Executive Orders suspending asylum processing, citing what he described as an “invasion” at the southern border. Early February data shows illegal migrant apprehensions at the southern border dropped by over 90% compared to February 2024.

Administration Pushes for Expanded Enforcement

Despite the significant increase in enforcement actions, Trump administration officials, particularly Border Czar Tom Homan, are pressing for even greater results. Homan has expressed dissatisfaction with the current pace of interior enforcement operations, emphasizing that more work remains to be done. The administration has launched a multimillion-dollar video ad campaign featuring Secretary Kristi Noem warning potential migrants against illegal entry and promising deportation for those found illegally in the country.

“If you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you. You will never return,” Secretary Noem said.

As arrests and deportations increase, ICE faces challenges with detention space. The agency has already exceeded its budget for 41,500 detention beds and has opened four federal prison facilities to accommodate the growing number of detainees. President Trump has authorized the use of Guantanamo Bay to detain up to 30,000 illegal immigrants.

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