By the Numbers: ICE and CBP Arrests, Detentions, and Deportations in the U.S.

Federal immigration enforcement entered a new phase this summer, with sharp increases in ICE arrests, steady detentions across the South, and faster deportations tied to border cases rather than the interior. As of August 10, 59,380 people were in ICE detention. In July alone there were 31,281 new bookings, combining 27,483 ICE arrests with 3,798 CBP transfers into ICE custody.

Officials point to tighter policies and aggressive operations, while advocates warn of due process gaps and family strain.

Detention footprint and who is detained

The geographic footprint of detention remains concentrated in the South:

• Texas: 13,192 detainees
• Louisiana: 7,398
• California: 3,555
• Georgia: 2,941
• Arizona: 2,619

The largest single facility, the Adams County Detention Center in Natchez, Mississippi, averaged 2,169 detainees per day in August.

• Most people in custody are not convicted of crimes: 70.4% (41,822) have no criminal convictions.
• Many convictions that do exist are for minor offenses, such as traffic violations.

Border enforcement and CBP activity

CBP’s field activity shows a different pattern from the record years of 2022–2023. Through July of FY 2025:

• CBP reported 639,826 enforcement encounters
  • U.S. Border Patrol: 235,916
  • Office of Field Operations: 403,910

Officials credit new enforcement rules and deterrence efforts for the decline in encounters. Analysis by VisaVerge.com attributes the shift to:

• Stricter screening at ports of entry
• Increased in‑country operations
• Public campaigns urging voluntary departure

These combined effects have rebalanced where and how people are intercepted.

Alternatives to Detention (ATD)

Detention is only one part of supervision. As of August 9:

• 182,617 people—both families and single adults—were enrolled in ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) programs.

ATD tools include:

• Regular check-ins
• Phone reporting
• Electronic monitoring

San Francisco led ATD usage among field offices. With more than 3.6 million cases pending in immigration court (late 2024), ATD lets ICE track people while they wait years for hearings. However, ATD also:

• Leaves families in limbo
• Creates uncertainty for communities about who may be subject to sudden removal

Deportations: a shift toward the border

The removal data shows clear trends:

• From FY 2020–2024, DHS averaged about 352,000 deportations per year
  • ICE averaged around 146,000 per year
• In FY 2024, ICE removed 224,000 people after border arrests, reflecting increased reliance on faster processes near ports of entry.

Interior removals have declined over time:

• FY 2009–2016: 155,000 per year
• FY 2017–2020: 81,000 per year
• FY 2021–2024: 38,000 per year

Where ICE removes people from the interior:

• 79% involve criminal convictions, mostly nationals from Mexico and northern Central America.

Administration strategy, messaging, and programs

The administration has paired enforcement with public messaging. In August, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the estimated number of people living in the country without legal status had dropped by about 1.6 million in her first 200 days, citing tougher actions and a multimillion‑dollar international campaign urging self‑deportation.

A central piece is “Operation Homecoming”, which offers:

• $1,000 and a free flight for voluntary departure via the new CBP Home App

Officials say the program reduces strain on detention capacity and speeds returns. Critics argue that cash offers and app tools can pressure people to give up valid claims.

Political leadership has emphasized tougher measures:

• Calls for broader removal authority and more local‑federal cooperation
• Resumption of the “Remain in Mexico” (MPP) program
• A proposed $5,000 fine for unlawful border crossings, including for people who later request asylum
• Ending the CBP One appointment system, replacing it with the self‑departure app

Many of these steps are under active court review, adding uncertainty to daily border operations.

Funding, capacity, and operational consequences

Budget and bed capacity shape enforcement choices:

• ICE FY 2024 budget: $9.1 billion
  • Supports about 21,000 personnel, including 7,700 enforcement and removal officers
• Congress funded 41,500 detention beds in early 2025 — well below the number of people deemed removable

Consequences of constrained capacity:

• More releases under supervision
• Greater reliance on ATD and reporting requirements
• Drive for faster border processing and voluntary returns, which use fewer beds and fewer court hours than complex interior cases

How procedures work in practice

On paper, procedures are straightforward; in practice, they are difficult:

• When ICE arrests someone, the person is usually placed into removal proceedings unless there’s an existing removal order.
• Near the border, people face faster screening, including expedited removal, which can lead to quick deportations if no credible fear claim is found.
• In the interior, cases can drag on for years, complicating family life with court dates, work, school, and the ever‑present risk of sudden pickup if supervision terms are violated.

Legal aid groups say the mix of speed at the border and delay in the interior makes consistent case planning difficult.

“Enforcement teams have been ‘unleashed’ to target recent entrants and public safety priorities,” a senior official said — a strategy that activists warn can sweep up long‑settled parents with U.S.‑born children.

VisaVerge.com’s analysis highlights who is most at risk:

• People with recent border crossings
• Those with prior removal orders
• Individuals with criminal records, even for old or minor offenses

Community advocates note risks increase when local police share data or when workplace checks pull in long‑time employees.

Policy shifts reshape enforcement

Important recent policy moves include:

• “Immigration Registration” rule (announced April 11):
  • Requires certain immigrants without legal status to register with the federal government.
  • People already in court or with legal status are treated as registered.
  • Presented as a way to create a fuller picture of the noncitizen population, the rule can also identify people for deportation or encourage voluntary departure.
• Declaration of a national emergency at the southern border
• Increased military support and expanded wall construction
• Expanded surveillance and signals for broader state/local involvement in immigration checks
• Longer‑term proposals discussed include ending DACA, scaling back Temporary Protected Status, and expanding worksite verification

Civil rights groups argue these measures erode due process and risk mass removals and family separations. Attorneys warn that MPP’s return and greater use of expedited removal limit access to counsel, particularly for people waiting in Mexico or held in remote sites. Families report that the $5,000 crossing fine adds financial hardship on top of legal and travel costs. The government counters that the measures serve public safety and national security, pointing to the drop in encounters and increased voluntary returns.

Human impact and legal uncertainty

The data describe policy; the stories reveal the cost.

Examples from the region:

• In South Texas, a father with two U.S.‑born children on ATD checks the app every morning to confirm his next report date. He has no criminal record and a pending asylum case, yet he fears a knock at the door.
• In Louisiana, a woman with an old traffic conviction faced transfer hundreds of miles from her attorney after a routine stop became an immigration hold.
• In Arizona, a recent border crosser accepted Operation Homecoming’s $1,000 and a flight after losing hope for a quick hearing.

Court challenges to MPP, the registration rule, and fines are moving through federal courts. Judges have at times:

• Questioned fines applied to people who later claim asylum
• Paused parts of new rules in limited areas

The result is constant churn: counsel file emergency motions, families search for updates, and field offices adjust check‑in practices. People trying to follow the rules often face mixed messages.

For official guidance, the government maintains updates on the ICE website for current enforcement policies, detention procedures, and field office contact points. Readers can review agency notices and public statements at the official page: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Note that the site lists standard processes but does not substitute for individual legal advice, especially when deciding whether to seek a bond hearing, request parole, or accept a voluntary return.

Regional patterns and downstream effects

Fiscal choices explain many observed patterns:

• Tight bed space -> reliance on ATD and faster border case processing
• Result: interior deportations at historic lows while border removals rise
• Regional concentration in Texas and Louisiana reflects where facilities exist, where officers are stationed, and where court dockets can handle bulk processing

Advocates say this regional tilt increases pressure on families living near the border—even those with deep community ties and pending claims.

What to expect next depends on:

• Court rulings
• Congressional funding choices
• The scale and tempo of new operations

Civil society groups plan further lawsuits and rapid‑response efforts. Employers in agriculture, construction, and food processing brace for more audits and arrests. Schools and clinics are fielding new questions from families about guardianship plans if a parent is detained.

Big picture: numbers and human realities

For now, the picture is stark. Enforcement is rising while the legal system groans under backlogs. Key figures underscore the scale:

• 31,281 July bookings
• 59,380 in detention (as of August 10)
• 639,826 CBP encounters (FY 2025 through July)

The policy goal emphasizes deterrence and quick outcomes. The human reality includes fear, separation risks, and stark choices: fight a case for years under supervision, accept a flight with a small payout, or go out of sight and hope not to be found—choices that few families ever imagined they would face.