ICE deportations hit record high in US FY2026; 2 Indians among ‘worst’ cases cited by DHS

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 483,200 people and made more than 491,000 arrests in the 2026 fiscal year, according to figures released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The deportation figure was the highest in ICE’s history, surpassing the previous record of 442,640 removals in fiscal year 2025.

The number was nearly equal to the combined deportations recorded during the three full fiscal years under the Biden administration—from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2024—which stood at about 486,000, according to DHS.


ICE also reported nearly 475,000 administrative arrests in fiscal year 2026. The agency said this was its highest-ever annual figure for such arrests.

The total number of arrests exceeded the combined figure for fiscal years 2022, 2023 and 2024, which was below 427,000. It was also more than six times the number recorded in fiscal year 2021.

September saw 48,000 arrests

ICE made more than 48,000 arrests and carried out 44,000 removals in September 2026, DHS said. The number of arrests was more than 300% higher than the average recorded in September during the Biden administration.

August recorded the highest number of ICE arrests in a single month, at 50,925. July had set the previous record with 50,208 arrests, while June saw 43,900 arrests.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the brave men and women of ICE, who just broke more historic records,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.

“Fiscal Year 2026 saw the highest number of ICE deportations and arrests for any year in ICE’s history. September 2026 was the best September in ICE’s history in terms of arrests. The total number of ICE arrests in Fiscal Year 2026 was more than all three full fiscal years under Biden combined, as the patriots of ICE work around the clock to make America safe again. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, ICE has been unleashed to target and remove illegal aliens so that we can save American lives,” he said.

DHS said that, under President Donald Trump, more than three million migrants had left the US. As of October, nearly 1.2 million people had been deported and more than 1.25 million had been arrested, it said.

Two Indian nationals among those arrested

The DHS release also listed two Indian nationals among people arrested by ICE during fiscal year 2026.

Aman Kumar was arrested in Fresno, California, in May after he was charged with felony hit-and-run causing death or injury. DHS said he had allegedly injured a four-year-old boy in an accident in April and fled the scene.

Rajinder Kumar was arrested in April after being charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. DHS said his semi-truck and trailer had jackknifed in Deschutes County, Oregon, causing a crash that killed a newlywed couple.

ICE also listed arrests involving people from Mexico, Laos, Honduras, Venezuela, Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom and other countries. The cases included allegations of murder, sexual assault, weapons offences, human trafficking, criminal vehicular homicide and animal torture.