In a startling escalation of immigration enforcement, the acting director of ICE revealed that over 300,000 illegal aliens, many of whom are deemed “the worst of the worst,” have been arrested in just the first half of 2025. This significant crackdown, part of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration strategy, has led to a record number of detainees, surpassing 60,000 this week—a modern high since 2019.

During a White House briefing, Todd Lyons, the acting ICE director, emphasized the urgency of their mission: to remove dangerous individuals from American communities. Nearly 70% of those arrested have criminal charges or past convictions, highlighting the focus on public safety threats. “We are countering individuals who entered under the last administration,” Lyons stated, asserting that ICE’s approach is no longer a “catch and release” policy but a commitment to ensuring due process and judicial oversight.

The stark contrast in enforcement strategies between the current and previous administrations is evident. While Trump’s ICE apprehended over 3500 gang members labeled as foreign terrorist threats, the Biden administration’s figures for the same period show a significant drop. Lyons reiterated that the priority remains on those with final deportation orders—around 1.5 million individuals—who pose serious risks to society.

In a controversial incident in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, tensions flared as local police allegedly failed to cooperate with ICE during the apprehension of a sex offender. Lyons criticized this lack of collaboration, emphasizing the potential danger posed by releasing such individuals into the community unmonitored.

As ICE ramps up its operations, the agency is calling for greater cooperation from local law enforcement to ensure that dangerous criminals are swiftly removed from neighborhoods. With the stakes higher than ever, the battle against illegal immigration and crime continues to unfold at a rapid pace.