Immigration arrests dip in July; activists credit advocacy for slowdown

(UNITED STATES) Immigration arrests fell in July 2025, a rare pause during an enforcement push led by President Donald Trump’s second administration. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports that arrests slowed last month even as detention stayed high and electronic tracking expanded. Immigrant advocates say their protests, lawsuits, and local pressure helped curb some operations. Federal officials, meanwhile, argue stronger action is driving public safety gains and say enforcement will continue to focus on people with criminal records.

Arrests Slow Amid Aggressive Enforcement

As of late July, ICE detention stood at 56,945 people, with 71.1% having criminal convictions or pending charges, according to agency figures shared this summer. The pace of immigration arrests eased in July compared to previous months, continuing a slowdown seen since January, when President Trump returned to office.

ICE also reported fewer people in its Alternatives‑to‑Detention program, which dipped from 185,824 at the end of May to 182,799 by late July. At the same time, the use of ankle monitors rose sharply, especially in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

U.S. Border Patrol reported 6,374 arrests of “criminal aliens” — people with prior criminal convictions — from October 1, 2024, through July 2025, a partial total for fiscal year 2025. That figure reflects a stepped‑up focus on people with criminal histories at the border and inside the country. ICE says about 70% of its arrests involve noncitizens with convictions or charges.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) links these enforcement priorities to lower violent crime in cities. From January through June 2025, DHS says:

• Homicides fell 17%
• Gun assaults declined 21%
• Aggravated assault decreased 10%
• Sexual assault dropped 10%
• Carjackings fell 24%

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has emphasized that ICE removals of “criminal illegal aliens” are part of that trend. Critics dispute cause and effect and warn crime data can fluctuate for many reasons, but the agency’s message is clear: keep the pressure on those with records.

The official numbers offer a mixed picture:

• Detention remains high
• Immigration arrests slowed in July
• Electronic monitoring is spreading

For families in mixed‑status homes, these shifts bring daily choices: whether to attend court in person, how to meet check‑in rules, and what to do if a parent wears a tracking device that limits work or school routines.

For those tracking policy, ICE’s own statistics page remains the best starting point for current totals and trends. The agency updates detention counts, arrest breakdowns, and alternatives‑to‑detention data at https://www.ice.gov/statistics.

Activists Claim Credit, Warn of Expanded Surveillance

Organizers say their efforts helped drive the July slowdown in immigration arrests. They point to:

• Court challenges
• “Know your rights” campaigns
• Pressure on sheriffs to limit cooperation with ICE holds

Some city leaders have pressed local police to narrow their role in federal enforcement, arguing that fear of deportation can keep witnesses from reporting crime. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, sustained advocacy in key metro areas often coincides with changes in how local jails communicate with ICE, which can affect arrest totals.

Advocates also see warning signs. They note the spread of ankle monitors and tighter check‑in rules, which they say push people into round‑the‑clock tracking and can lead to missed shifts or medical appointments. They worry that new data‑sharing tools and expanded use of local police in immigration tasks could return arrest numbers to earlier highs, even if July brought a dip.

Many groups are preparing responses for the fall:

• Larger neighborhood trainings
• Rapid‑response hotlines
• Legal clinics

Parents describe the tradeoffs plainly: an ankle monitor may keep a breadwinner out of a detention center, but it can also cost a job if a supervisor refuses the device on the line. Students on monitors report embarrassment at school events; a few say they stopped sports or after‑school programs to avoid questions. These are small choices that add up to big stress.

“An ankle monitor may keep a breadwinner out of a detention center, but it can also cost a job.”
— Illustrative quote from parents and affected community members

Policy Fights and What Comes Next

President Trump’s 2025 agenda includes executive orders aimed at:

• Mass deportations
• More border wall construction
• Tighter vetting
• Restrictions on asylum and refugee admissions

The administration has moved to roll back several Biden‑era programs, including the CBP One asylum scheduling tool, and to suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program while it undergoes review. Some moves face legal hurdles: federal courts have temporarily blocked parts of policies tied to birthright citizenship and asylum rules, leaving many families waiting on rulings that could shape their future.

Inside the government, supporters say the central goal is swift removal of people who break U.S. law or who violate immigration orders. Outside government, civil rights lawyers argue sweeping directives risk catching long‑time residents with deep community ties, including parents of U.S. citizen children.

The push known as “Project 2025”, promoted by some administration allies, includes calls to:

• End protections for Dreamers and some Temporary Protected Status holders
• Expand local police roles in immigration enforcement

If fully implemented, that could mean more deportations and fewer legal paths for those seeking safety.

For now, the practical landscape looks like this:

1. Top ICE priority: People with criminal convictions or pending charges.
2. Tracking substitution: The use of ankle monitors and other tracking tools is growing as a substitute for custody.
3. Tighter entry: Asylum and refugee intake is more restricted during reviews and litigation.
4. Court uncertainty: Rulings can change policy quickly; families and employers should monitor developments.

Community groups recommend preparation measures:

• Keep key papers in a safe place
• Share a family plan with trusted contacts
• Save the ICE Tip Line: 1‑866‑DHS‑2‑ICE
• Seek legal advice on clearing minor records where state law allows
• Update school emergency cards
• Employers should consult counsel to plan for audits and to avoid discriminatory practices during status checks

Supporters of strict enforcement see the July dip as proof that targeted, high‑profile operations can disrupt re‑entry and reduce reoffending without sweeping arrests. Opponents view it as evidence that public pressure can temper federal power, at least temporarily. Both sides agree: the numbers can move fast.

The next tests will come in courtrooms and city halls:

• If federal judges uphold new orders on asylum and interior enforcement, agencies may accelerate removals.
• If courts block those orders, expect more pilot programs and greater reliance on tools like ankle monitors while cases proceed.

Congress remains split, with no broad reform on the horizon.

For families and employers, the takeaway is clear though the rules remain complex: July brought a pause in immigration arrests, but the ground is still shifting. People with past convictions are at higher risk. Those with pending claims face longer waits and tighter controls. And for many, a tracking device rather than a cell now marks daily life.