In a recent directive, senior aides to former President Donald Trump instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to escalate daily immigrant arrests to 3,000, effectively tripling previous targets. This was reported following a meeting held on May 21, 2025, where Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urged field office directors and special agents to increase deportations aggressively.
This new goal significantly surpasses the arrest numbers recorded during the early phase of Trump's second term. The administration's move aligns with ongoing efforts by Capitol Hill Republicans who recently approved a substantial immigration funding package—an additional $147 billion allocated over the next decade under Trump’s "big beautiful bill."
The directive comes amid a sharp decline in border crossings during Trump’s term, prompting officials to intensify enforcement efforts beyond border areas, targeting unauthorized immigrants across various U.S. communities. However, the administration's stringent policies and widespread enforcement, including arrests of some U.S. citizens and legal residents, have contributed to declining public approval on immigration issues.
According to insider reports, Miller's firm demand during the meeting left officials apprehensive about meeting the heightened arrest quotas, fearing potential job repercussions. While some viewed Miller's tone as an attempt to motivate, it is not the first instance of such pressure on Department of Homeland Security leadership to ramp up deportations.
The Department of Homeland Security and ICE have also sought increased staffing, detention bed space, and other resources to support enforcement activities. Several agreements have been signed to expand detention capacity nationwide to accommodate the anticipated rise in arrests.
Despite media coverage emphasizing increased deportations and heightened enforcement flights, independent analysis by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) indicates that actual deportation figures are comparable to those during President Joe Biden’s last year in office. While border-area removals have decreased, likely due to fewer migrants attempting entry, removals within interior locations have risen.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson emphasized the administration’s commitment, stating: "Keeping President Trump's promise to deport illegal aliens is something the administration takes seriously. We are dedicated to efficiently removing illegal immigrants and ensuring law enforcement has the necessary resources. The safety of the American people relies on these efforts."
