Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported a record 483,200 people in fiscal year 2026, an escalation in federal enforcement that has continued despite voter backlash during the midterm elections.
While Democrats secured control of both the House and Senate, the administration remains committed to its mass deportation agenda.
The figure represents a nearly 78% increase from the 271,484 deportations recorded in fiscal year 2024, the final full fiscal year under President Biden, according to Department of Homeland Security figures obtained by CBS News. The agency also reported over 491,000 immigration arrests for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, with 50,925 arrests occurring in August alone—a new monthly high.
.@SecMullinDHS clear your calendar. https://t.co/dIL0qDbnPA
Enforcement Pace Following Midterm Results
Despite Democratic gains in Congress, the administration has signaled no intention to scale back operations. Mullin addressed the political climate during an appearance on Fox News, promising “zero change“to current policies. He emphasized that the agency has reprioritized its focus toward individuals categorized as”the worst of the worst,” specifically targeting murderers, rapists, child predators, drug bankers, and cartel members.
Deportations will continue.
Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security
This financial support, provided by legislation passed during the first year of President Trump’s second term, covers federal spending through 2029.
Deportations will continue.
Congressional Oversight and Budgetary Constraints
With the 120th Congress taking office on January 3, 2027, Democrats hold at least 231 seats in the House and 54 in the Senate. Representative Robert Garcia, D-Calif., who is poised to lead the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has identified the Department of Homeland Security and alleged abuses by immigration agents as a major focus area.
Garcia intends to question officials regarding the expenditure of agency funds and the handling of incidents where immigrants have been killed.
Thompson warned that failure to produce these records by January 4, 2027, would compel the subcommittee to pursue alternative measures to obtain compliance. Democrats have suggested that while the budget is set through 2029, unspent funds could potentially be redirected or tied to reforms, such as limiting arrests to those with serious criminal records.
Voters Show Divided Opinions on Immigration Enforcement
Exit polling from the 2026 midterms indicates that public opinion on immigration enforcement is sharply divided.
One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was "composition"—whether the electorate looked close enough to 2024 for Republicans to win. And despite polls that showed a Democrat blowout, the data kept on telling us the same story: in some states turnout was…
The AP Voter Poll, surveying approximately 100,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 respondents felt the administration’s actions had “gone too far,“while a similar share expressed disapproval of ICE’s performance. Artemio Muñiz of the Texas Federation of Hispanic Republicans told NPR that anti-immigrant policies contributed to the Hispanic community becoming”fed up,” noting that several border counties flipped to support Democratic candidates after backing Trump in 2024.
President Trump, in a “60 Minutes“interview, acknowledged that his deportation policy may have been”too tough” and expressed a willingness to work with the Democratic majority on reforms. However, he also promoted Stephen Miller—the architect of his most controversial immigration policies—to the position of White House chief of staff. Trump also intends to use his presidential veto to block Democratic efforts to rein in enforcement.
NEW: Ranking Member Thompson demands DHS preserve every record, email, and contract—and turn over all outstanding documents.⁰⁰Everyone at DHS who thought they could stonewall their way out of accountability should read this letter.⁰⁰You’ll be hearing from us. pic.twitter.com/zmOFz3zWlX
Legal Challenges Target H-1B Petition Requirements
The administration’s agenda faces ongoing legal resistance. Requirements such as the $100,000 payment for certain H-1B petitions have encountered substantial challenges in court. Experts note that while the incoming Democratic Congress will have more opportunities to scrutinize these actions, the practical impact on H-1B workers, students, and H-4 spouses will depend largely on how pending legal and regulatory battles unfold.
Keep reading