The Miami office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has emerged as the leader in immigration arrests across the United States since the start of Donald Trump's second term. The office is averaging 120 detentions per day, as reported by The New York Times and cited by the organization Americans For Immigrant Justice.
Encompassing Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, the Miami ICE branch has recorded 41,310 arrests since January 2025. This includes 9,880 detentions in 2026 alone, outpacing every other office nationwide.
Miami's arrest numbers surpass those of the second-ranked Dallas by 36%, with Dallas accounting for 30,350 total arrests. Other cities like New Orleans (29,210), Houston (27,090), Atlanta (26,830), Chicago (23,230), and San Antonio (22,240) also follow closely behind.
Factors Driving Miami's Leading Role
"Florida is currently reporting the second-highest level of immigration arrests in the nation, driven largely by the close cooperation between local and federal immigration authorities," stated Americans For Immigrant Justice.
Miami's prominence in these operations is attributed to a mix of political and demographic factors. Florida is the only state where all county sheriffs have active agreements with ICE under the 287(g) program. In February 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis expanded these 287(g) agreements, allowing local agencies to collaborate with ICE on immigration enforcement.
Additionally, Miami-Dade County boasts the highest proportion of foreign-born residents in the country, standing at 54.5%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
National Context of ICE Operations
On a national scale, a report from the Deportation Data Project at the University of California, Berkeley, indicates that ICE arrests have quadrupled under Trump compared to the Biden era. The agency has been detaining more than 6,000 individuals weekly, with an average of 57,000 people held daily by January 2026.
Americans For Immigrant Justice highlighted a staggering 2,450% increase in the number of individuals without criminal records detained by ICE since January 2025. This aligns with previous analyses documenting a rise in arrests of immigrants without documented criminal backgrounds.
The surge in operations has also led to a humanitarian crisis in detention centers, where the death rate in custody reached its highest level in 22 years, as reported in a study published in the medical journal JAMA on April 16.
Challenges and Controversies Faced by ICE
Following the deaths of two U.S. citizens during federal operations in Minneapolis, weekly ICE arrests fell nearly 12% nationwide, dropping from an average of 8,347 to 7,369 weekly, though these numbers remain historically high.
In this contentious environment, interim ICE Director Todd Lyons announced his resignation on April 17, effective at the end of May, amid controversies over in-custody deaths and fatal shootings of American citizens in Minneapolis.
In December 2025, ICE arrests peaked at nearly 40,000 weekly, far exceeding records from the Biden administration, with daily detainee numbers reaching a historic high of over 73,400 individuals.
Understanding the Impact of Miami's Immigration Operations
Why is Miami leading in immigration arrests?
Miami leads due to its political and demographic factors, including strong cooperation between local and federal authorities under the 287(g) program and a high foreign-born population.
What is the 287(g) program?
The 287(g) program is a federal initiative that allows local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with ICE in immigration enforcement tasks.
How has the Trump administration affected ICE operations?
Under Trump, ICE arrests have quadrupled compared to the Biden era, with weekly detentions exceeding 6,000 individuals and daily detainee numbers reaching record levels.
What are the humanitarian concerns related to ICE's operations?
The surge in ICE operations has led to a humanitarian crisis in detention centers, with the death rate in custody reaching its highest point in 22 years.