Federal immigration authorities arrested 50,925 illegal immigrants in August, marking the highest single-month total in U.S. history, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Sept. 3. The figure represents a third consecutive monthly increase, surpassing the previous records of 50,208 in July and 43,900 in June.
The arrests were part of ongoing enforcement efforts under the Trump administration, which has prioritized the removal of individuals with criminal histories and those who entered the country unlawfully. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated in a statement that the record figures reflected "promises made and promises kept" by the administration.
Operation Rotten Apple, a targeted enforcement initiative in New York state, contributed to the total, with federal authorities reporting the removal of 2,197 illegal immigrants over a 33-day period ending Aug. 29. The operation focused on individuals released from jails and prisons in sanctuary jurisdictions.
Since January 2025, DHS reports that more than 3 million illegal immigrants have either been deported or left the U.S. voluntarily. The administration has continued to offer incentives for self-deportation, including free flights home and a $3,000 payment to individuals who voluntarily depart. Previously, the payment was $2,600.
DHS highlighted the deportation of several individuals described as "worst of the worst" criminal aliens, including:
- A Kenyan man convicted of murder in Compton, California
- An Indian man convicted of child sex crimes in Washington
- A Guatemalan man convicted on drug charges in Cincinnati
- An Ecuadorian man convicted of sexual assault and child sexual assault in Bergen County, New Jersey
- A Mexican national whose charges were not fully detailed in the report
The agency emphasized that individuals apprehended through enforcement actions would be removed from the country without the possibility of lawful return. DHS officials reiterated their stance that "If you are in the country illegally, leave now." The statement added, "If not, we will find you, arrest you, and deport you."
The August figures follow a broader trend of increased immigration enforcement under the current administration, with DHS reporting that approximately 1 million illegal immigrants have been removed and an additional 2 million have self-deported since January 2025.