Trump administration conducts 980,000 deportations in 18 months

A report by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) reveals that the Department of Homeland Security conducted approximately 980,000 deportations during the first 18 months of President Donald Trump’s second administration, covering the period from January 20, 2025, to July 31, 2026.

The data, authored by former DHS official Marc Rosenblum, indicates a significant shift in enforcement tactics. While two-thirds of deportations involved individuals intercepted at the border, arrests within the country’s interior rose from an average of 8,000 per month to 19,000 per month between May and July 2026. Additionally, deportations of individuals who had resided in the United States for ten years or more saw a monthly increase of 147%.

Regarding criminal history, the report notes that 20 percent of all deportations involved individuals with a criminal conviction, meaning 80 percent of those deported did not have a criminal record. Although deportation rates are higher than those seen during the Biden administration and Trump’s first term, the current pace remains below the administration's stated goal of one million deportations per year.