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ICE arrests hit record high in July as enforcement quietly ramps up

ICE agents arrive to clear protesters from a gate outside the Delaney Hall detention facility on June 11, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andres Kudacki/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 51,000 individuals in July, according to sources familiar with the data.

The arrests are the largest in a single month in DHS history, according to data.  

It comes as ICE is ramping up arrests at airports — with ICE arresting over 30 people at airports in July, agency data shows.

Those being detained in some cases do not have criminal records and have valid work authorization or parole documents, according to one immigration attorney that spoke with ABC News.

The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to ABC News’ request for comment about the numbers.

In June, DHS announced that the total number of deportations so far this fiscal year is 356,389, according to the numbers posted by ICE.

ICE has quietly been increasing their operations around the country, according to a law enforcement source.

Some allies of President Donald Trump say the numbers should be released in full and the enforcement doesn’t go far enough.

“The point is the numbers remain wildly disproportionately low to the scale of illegals let in by Biden and the promise of mass deportation,” Mike Howell, the president of the Trump-aligned Oversight Project, told ABC News. “The numbers will stay low until worksite enforcement is the central pillar of the strategy. I’m very worried about the amnesty lobby continuing to use inflated deportation statistics to push for a grand compromise and sell out.  That’s why I’m suing DHS for real data and will keep doing it until I don’t have to.”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

‘Heated Rivalry’ asks fans for space ahead of season 2 filming

Connor Storrie, Hudson Williams in 'Heated Rivalry.' (Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max)Heated Rivalry wants fans to cool it as season 2 begins production.The Heated Rivalry official account and creator Jacob Tierney’s production company Accent Aigu Entertainment posted a message to social media Tuesday asking fans not to disrupt filming locations.“To our incredible fans and everyone who’s been sharing in the excitement for the show: Your support, enthusiasm, and kindness have meant the world to us,” reads the post. “As we gear up for more Heated Rivalry, please help us in making it the best it can be. If you happen to come across one of our filming locations, please give our cast and crew the space they need to do what they do best.”“We promise it’ll be worth the wait!” the post concludes.Filming for season 2 is expected to begin this month. Stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have been photographed together around Toronto in recent days.While season 1 of the Crave/HBO Max hockey romance focuses on the events of the Heated Rivalry novel by Rachel Reid, season 2 will follow its sequel, The Long Game.Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
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