Trump administration has unveiled a plan to bolster ICE operations, aiming to deport over 600,000 undocumented immigrants by year-end

Trump administration unveiled plans today to supercharge U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, aiming to deport over 600,000 undocumented immigrants by year’s end. This surge follows a staggering milestone: more than 2 million removals or self-deportations since President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025 – achieved in under 280 days, shattering previous records and signaling an unrelenting push to reclaim border security.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced the initiative during a fiery White House press briefing, flanked by ICE Director Tom Homan and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. “President Trump promised the largest deportation operation in American history, and we’re delivering – big league,” Noem declared. “We’ve already sent 2 million illegal aliens packing, with over 548,000 formal removals this year alone. Now, with fresh funding and fearless leadership, we’re hitting 600,000 deportations by December 31 and marching toward 1 million annually. No more catch-and-release. No more sanctuary sabotage. America is back in control.”

The announcement comes amid internal frustrations over deportation pacing, prompting a sweeping leadership shake-up at ICE’s regional field offices. Sources close to the administration reveal plans to replace up to a dozen senior field directors – those overseeing multi-state enforcement zones – for failing to meet aggressive arrest quotas. “Some bureaucrats were dragging their feet, hiding behind red tape,” Miller told reporters. “We’re installing warriors who get the job done. This isn’t a personnel shuffle; it’s a sledgehammer to the status quo.” While DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin downplayed the moves as “routine optimizations,” insiders say the changes, expected within weeks, will prioritize hard-charging executives from Trump’s first term, like former Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz.

Fueling this blitz is an unprecedented hiring frenzy. ICE has flooded the market with 10,000 new deportation officer positions, backed by the “One Big Beautiful Bill” – a $75 billion DHS infusion signed in July that allocates $8 billion for personnel and $45 billion for 100,000 detention beds. Recruitment has exploded: over 175,000 applications poured in within weeks, with 85% from veterans, retired agents, and law enforcement pros. To widen the net, ICE slashed age limits from 40 to 37 and dangled $50,000 signing bonuses – the fattest in federal history. “We’re building an army of patriots,” Homan boasted. “By next summer, we’ll have 3,000 arrests a day, up from today’s 1,500. Cartels, coyotes, and criminal aliens – your time’s up.”

The numbers paint a picture of momentum unmatched in decades. DHS data shows formal ICE removals hit 548,000 through October, eclipsing the entire FY 2024 total of 330,000 under President Biden. Combined with 1.6 million self-deportations – spurred by apps like CBP Home offering $1,000 stipends and stark warnings of raids – the 2 million mark was crossed on September 23. Flights tell the tale: ICE logged a record 1,464 enforcement sorties in September alone, averaging 49 daily, per Human Rights First’s monitoring. Domestic “shuffle” flights, shuttling detainees between facilities, spiked 53% year-over-year to 5,322 total.

Yet, the operation isn’t without hurdles. Detention centers are bursting at 60,000 capacity, with 17 migrant deaths reported in FY 2025 – the deadliest year in two decades, drawing fire from ACLU lawyers who decry “dehumanizing warehouse conditions.” Non-criminal arrests now comprise 71% of totals, fueling lawsuits in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles and New York, where federal judges have blocked expedited removals for thousands. Critics, including Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal, slammed the push as “cruel theater,” arguing it diverts resources from violent offenders: ICE has nabbed just 752 convicted murderers and 1,693 sexual assailants since January, per NBC tracking.

Supporters, however, hail it as vindication. On X, #DeportNow trended with 2.5 million posts, as users like @TaraServatius cheered: “2.1M gone in 270 days – Trump’s delivering what Biden botched!” Polls show 62% of Americans back the raids, per a fresh Rasmussen survey, crediting the policy for plummeting border encounters (down 87% from 2024 peaks).

Economically, the ripple effects are profound. Self-deportations have eased wage suppression in low-skill sectors, with USDA reporting a 15% farm labor uptick from legal hires. But foes warn of labor shortages: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates $50 billion in annual hits to agriculture and construction if targets balloon.

As dusk fell on the briefing, Trump tweeted: “FAKE NEWS says we’re slow – WRONG! 2M OUT, 600K MORE COMING. Building the WALL in their MINDS. #MAGA!” With midterms looming and 10 million undocumented residents in the crosshairs, this ICE ignition could redefine 2026 – a nation fortified or fractured?