Trump Administration Orders ICE to Increase Arrests: Target Set at 3,000 Per Day

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to raise their daily arrest target to 3,000 individuals. This move represents a significant escalation in immigration enforcement, tripling the agency’s current average arrest rate.

The directive was delivered during a meeting at ICE headquarters on May 21, where Trump adviser Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem addressed agency leaders. Reports indicate that Miller sharply criticized ICE officials for what he described as inadequate arrest numbers, while Noem echoed the demand in a more measured tone.

ICE is currently detaining around 49,000 people—already exceeding federal funding limits. In response, Republican lawmakers are reportedly preparing a new funding package that could allocate an additional $147 billion over the next decade to support ICE operations.

Experts warn that meeting such an aggressive target could strain ICE’s operational and financial capacity. There are also growing concerns about the potential for wrongful detentions, including those of legal immigrants or U.S. citizens.

Immigration rights advocates and legal experts have voiced alarm, cautioning that policies of this scale may create an atmosphere of fear and confusion across immigrant communities.

This latest mandate reflects a broader effort by the Trump administration to toughen its stance on immigration during his second term in office.