New York.– Arrests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increased considerably over the last few months in New York and New Jersey, amid the tightening of immigration policy driven by the administration of President Donald Trump.
Official data provided to the Deportation Data Project, an initiative linked to the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), indicate that ICE carried out 49,571 arrests across the United States during July, the highest monthly figure recorded during Trump’s second term.
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In comparison, during June 43,021 arrests were recorded, while in February the figure was 29,241, which reflects a sustained growth in immigration detentions nationwide.
New Jersey records sharp increase
The increase was especially pronounced in New Jersey. Between May and July, arrests made by ICE increased by 147.6%.
Just during July, more than 2,100 people were arrested by immigration agents in that state. Nearly 1,800 were subsequently processed and admitted to ICE detention centers.
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The figures show an intensification of migratory operations in New Jersey during the last few months.
Arrests also increase in New York
New York also experienced a considerable increase. In April, 754 arrests were recorded, while in July the number reached 1,355, equivalent to an increase of approximately 79.7% in three months.
The difference is even greater when comparing the recent figures with December 2024, when 182 arrests had been recorded in the state.
The increase comes as state authorities take measures aimed at limiting the participation of police and other local agencies in the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws.
New York limits local police collaboration with ICE
On August 25th, new state restrictions went into effect that seek to reduce the collaboration of local authorities with ICE.
Among the measures is the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, legislation that prevents police departments and other local entities from maintaining 287(g) agreements with the federal agency.
These agreements allow certain state or municipal agents to receive authorization to perform certain functions related to the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
The New York Attorney General’s Office had notified 12 law enforcement agencies that they had to end those agreements no later than August 25.
State authorities maintain that local police resources should be focused on combating crime and ensuring the safety of their communities, rather than being used to enforce federal civil immigration policies.
Marshals bring restrictions to the courts
The new provisions have generated resistance among some local authorities. Fifteen New York county sheriffs filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the ban on 287(g) agreements.
The plaintiffs believe that state restrictions limit their ability to collaborate with federal authorities in charge of enforcing immigration laws.
For her part, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James have defended the restrictions and maintain their position of demanding compliance with the legislation while the conflict continues in the courts.
ICE arrests maintain upward trend
The increase observed in New York and New Jersey is part of a broader trend in the United States. According to the cited data, arrests made by ICE increased by about 15% between June and July.
The behavior of the figures keeps the migration issue at the center of the debate, particularly in states like New York and New Jersey, where federal operations coincide with political and judicial discussions about the limits of cooperation between state, local, and federal authorities.
By: Ramón Mercedes
