Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 50,925 people nationwide in August, setting a new monthly record for the agency, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday.
The total surpassed July's 50,208 arrests and June's 43,900, marking the third straight month ICE has hit a new high.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin framed the numbers as fulfillment of a Trump campaign promise. "For the third straight month, ICE set a new record for the highest number of illegal aliens arrested in a single month, nearly 51,000," Mullin said in a statement. "This is promises made and promises kept in action."
The August surge included sweeps under "Operation Rotten Apple," a White House-directed crackdown across New York targeting people released from local jails and prisons. Federal authorities apprehended 2,197 people in New York during the 33-day operation from July 27 through Aug. 29.
The administration has targeted New York as a "sanctuary state" and pledged to expand ICE's presence there to pursue individuals released by local jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
President Trump campaigned on delivering the "largest-ever" deportation operation in U.S. history. To date, ICE has removed approximately 1 million people from the United States, with DHS data showing an additional 2 million have voluntarily departed.
The administration offers a voluntary departure program providing free flights and $3,000 payments to people who leave.
Mullin issued a direct warning: "Under President Trump's leadership, ICE is working around the clock every day to arrest and deport illegal aliens from American communities. If you are in the country illegally, LEAVE NOW. If not, we will find you, arrest you, and deport you."
