Taken in 90 seconds: How quiet ICE immigration arrests hit an all-time high in the US

ICE made nearly 50,000 arrests in July, a record, even as it dropped street raids for quieter methods. The Guardian reports on local police partnerships, wrongful deportations and new visa rules.

4 min readSep 29, 2026 06:08 AM IST First published on: Sep 29, 2026 at 06:08 AM IST

An ‘invisibilized’ ICE is arresting more people than ever. (File Photo)

The US government has changed how it carries out immigration arrests, but the number of arrests has not fallen. According to The Guardian, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made nearly 50,000 arrests in July, the highest monthly figure on record. After two US citizens were killed during an ICE operation in Minneapolis, President Donald Trump said in February that the government could use “a softer touch”.

Markwayne Mullin, who took over as homeland security secretary in March, said he wanted the agency out of the news every day. Large street raids and armoured vehicles have mostly stopped. In their place are short, quiet arrests at petrol stations, shops, airports and traffic stops, often carried out with local police. Lawyers say the change makes ICE harder to see and people harder to protect.

Quieter arrests, more of them

Lawyers say the raids of last year have given way to fast, low-profile arrests. Gracie Willis, an attorney at the National Immigration Project, told The Guardian that some detentions take about 90 seconds and happen with “very soft feet”.

People have been held while taking out rubbish, putting a child on a school bus, buying petrol and travelling to work. Airports are now a focus. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it wants people in the country illegally to fly only when leaving it. DHS declined to discuss its tactics.

Local police, more staff and more money

Congress has given DHS $75bn. The agency has more than doubled its workforce this year to over 22,000 officers and staff. As of 15 September, ICE had signed more than 2,500 “287(g)” agreements, which let local police and sheriffs act on its behalf.

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Willis calls this the “invisibilising” of immigration enforcement, because it is hard to tell whether an officer is doing routine policing or immigration work. On 29 August in Memphis, a police search for drugs and gambling at a bar ended with 120 people detained over their immigration status.

Of those held since Trump took office last year, 46% had a prior criminal conviction.

Mistakes and rule changes

Lawyers say local officers often misread immigration rules. Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an attorney in Austin, said her client Brian José Morales García, 25, was deported to Mexico last month after telling officers he was a US citizen born in Denver. He was allowed back after she filed documents proving his citizenship.

The government has also widened the groups it can detain:

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• The supreme court cleared the way to end temporary protections for 350,000 Haitians and Syrians.
• About 170,000 Salvadorans are waiting to hear if their protections will continue.
• Removal orders issued in absentia rose 55% in June to 53,808, after courts held large last-minute hearings that many people missed.
• More than 23,000 people have been sent in the past year to countries where they have no ties.

The government is expected to revoke the business and tourist visas of up to 200,000 foreigners in the coming weeks. A new rule lets officials refuse permanent residence if an applicant or certain relatives use public benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps or student aid.

Lawyers advise anyone with legal status to carry proof of it, since people have been stopped without documents on them.

The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More