In a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly told U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to increase daily arrests to 3,000—a number nearly three times higher than the early days of the Trump presidency.
According to a report by Axios, the demand was made during a tense May 21 meeting at ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C. Sources say that while Noem took a milder tone, Miller was “harsh” and intimidating, leaving agents fearing for their jobs if the new targets weren’t met.
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“Keeping President Trump’s promise to deport illegal aliens is something the administration takes seriously,” said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson in a statement to The Independent. “The safety of the American people depends upon it.”
In April 2025, 17,000 people were deported, a 29% increase over the same month in 2024, ICE data show.
Mounting pressure on ICE agents
Miller, a longtime architect of Trump’s most aggressive immigration policies, reportedly pressured agents to accelerate arrests and deportations, with some staff fearing retribution for not meeting the goal. According to Axios, this isn’t the first time Miller has scolded officials over arrest numbers.
ICE currently holds nearly 49,000 detainees, according to government data from early May.
Controversial tactics and civil liberties concerns
The push for mass deportations has prompted backlash from legal advocates and civil rights groups. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) condemned recent ICE actions—including arrests near courthouses—as a “flagrant betrayal of basic fairness and due process.”
“These are not fugitives,” AILA said in a statement. “They are individuals, many seeking protection from torture in their countries, complying with the law.”
Immigration judges have also reportedly been working in tandem with ICE to dismiss court cases and immediately route individuals into expedited removal, a fast-track deportation system that bypasses lengthy legal proceedings.
Political backdrop
The ramped-up enforcement comes as President Trump seeks to fulfill a campaign promise of historic deportation numbers ahead of the 2026 midterms. With border crossings reportedly declining, administration officials claim the hardline policies are working.
However, critics argue the administration is prioritizing arrest quotas and political optics over human rights, due process, and community trust.
For now, ICE agents face a clear mandate: 3,000 arrests a day—or risk disciplinary consequences.
