ICE Arrests in Washington, DC Surge
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has apprehended nearly 20,000 undocumented immigrants in the Washington, DC area since January 2025, as reported by a local newspaper.
From the beginning of Trump’s second term until March 20, these arrests took place not only in Washington, D.C. but also in nearby areas in Maryland and Virginia. Interestingly, while D.C.’s arrest numbers have seen a decrease, the figures in surrounding regions have remained relatively constant.
This recent uptick is quite striking, especially when compared to the final year of President Biden’s administration, during which ICE recorded only about 3,800 arrests in the same area.
Furthermore, the numbers in Washington might have been even higher if not for a judicial intervention back in December. U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled that ICE cannot arrest undocumented immigrants without a warrant, calling out ICE for what she viewed as a “systemic failure” to adhere to the law.
In terms of figures, ICE’s average monthly arrests rose to 700 from January to August 2025, which is an increase of about 100 from the period between September and March. Maryland alone saw around 800 arrests between September and January, with the numbers stabilizing around 500 each month since August.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not released specifics on how many of those arrested have already been deported. However, they noted a significant increase in voluntary deportations during Trump’s first year in office.
According to then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the Trump administration’s hardline stance on illegal immigration led to nearly 3 million undocumented individuals leaving the U.S., which included an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations along with over 675,000 deportations.
In January, Noem also highlighted that over 100,000 unaccompanied migrant children had been recovered after going missing during what she described as the challenging Biden presidency.
Noem emphasized that under Trump’s administration, DHS successfully located 132,720 children who had gone missing due to policies from the previous administration. She stated that far too many of these children faced exploitation and abuse during their ordeal. Overall, over 450,000 children were reportedly lost during Biden’s time in office, according to her.
Last month, Noem was replaced as DHS secretary by Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin.
