The Trump administration arrested and deported a record number of immigrants in July 2026, apprehending an average of 1,500 people and removing 1,100 daily, according to newly released government data obtained by the Deportation Data Project. Overall, 49,571 people were arrested last month, marking the highest number since October 2022 and a 15% increase from the previous record set in June 2026.

This data aligns with observations from attorneys and immigrant advocates across the United States, who note that while the administration has moved away from the high-profile, militarized raids seen last year, enforcement operations have quietly intensified. Melissa Shepard, director of legal services at the southern California-based immigrant services group ImmDef, explained, “The way that people are being detained is far less flashy, but we are still continuing to see arrests. It’s just on a quieter scale instead of, you know, 10, 12 officers making one arrest, you have a handful of officers pulling someone over.”

Despite claims that enforcement targets criminals, July was the first month during the second Trump administration in which the majority of arrestees—51%—had no criminal convictions or charges, according to analysis by the Guardian. Nearly 34,000 people were removed from the US last month, the most since the start of the administration’s second term.

Shepard added that immigration authorities appear to be seeking any possible means to detain people, describing their tactics as creative. ImmDef has recently advised clients with pending or valid immigration statuses, who are legally cleared for travel, to avoid flying due to increased enforcement.

Additionally, attorneys are urging clients with temporary protective status (TPS) to apply for other forms of immigration relief following a Supreme Court decision that permits the administration to revoke TPS designations from approximately 50,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians.

Advocates also noted that many immigration arrests go unnoticed in communities because it can be difficult for bystanders to distinguish between routine traffic stops and immigration apprehensions.

Sources