Homan says ICE could break a deportation record that's stood since Obama

WASHINGTON, DC: White House border czar Tom Homan expects Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests to climb beyond the agency’s current records next year, saying thousands of additional agents are being trained as the Trump administration expands its immigration enforcement operation.

His projection comes after ICE reported three consecutive monthly arrest records, culminating in 50,925 arrests in August.

ICE breaks records as staffing expands

Homan said in an interview with The Epoch Times published on Saturday, September 26, that the agency’s current numbers are not the ceiling, pointing to additional personnel expected to enter the field after completing training.

“I expect bigger numbers next year,” Homan said.

The comments follow a sharp rise in monthly ICE arrests.

DHS reported 43,900 arrests in June, 50,208 in July and 50,925 in August, making August the agency’s highest monthly total on record at the time.

DHS said the August figure marked the third consecutive month in which ICE established a new monthly arrest record.

Homan has also cited the effect of court orders on enforcement operations.

In a September 8 White House exchange, he said ICE was still breaking arrest records despite what he described as more than 100 nationwide injunctions and tens of thousands of habeas cases affecting detention decisions.

The administration’s enforcement push has been backed by a major increase in federal resources.

The Trump administration has sought to expand ICE staffing, detention capacity and enforcement partnerships as part of its broader immigration agenda.

Arrests and deportations remain separate

Homan has distinguished the record arrest numbers from the administration’s removal figures, saying September had produced the highest number of deportations in a single month.

The distinction is important because an ICE arrest does not automatically result in an immediate deportation.

Researchers at the Deportation Data Project have reported that arrests have increased faster than removals during parts of the administration’s enforcement push, while DHS has challenged the project’s methodology and interpretation.

The administration has nevertheless pointed to the broader scale of its immigration campaign.

The White House says more than 605,000 people have been deported since Trump returned to office, while Homan has predicted that the administration could surpass the single-fiscal-year removal record of 409,000 set during Barack Obama's presidency.

For Americans, the immediate impact will depend on how quickly the new personnel become operational and where ICE directs its expanded resources. 

More agents could mean a larger enforcement presence in communities, workplaces, jails and other locations where immigration authorities conduct arrests.

Recent reporting has already documented increased enforcement activity across several major US cities.