Arrests and deportations could skyrocket in 2026: ICE is strengthening and doubling the number of agents

A silent but powerful wave is rippling through the streets and hallways of migrant communities across the United States. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced an unprecedented expansion of its operational force, doubling the number of agents deployed nationwide and raising alarms both in Washington and in neighbourhoods where thousands of Latino and migrant families have lived for decades.

In early 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that ICE had grown from roughly 10,000 agents to more than 22,000 following an aggressive recruitment campaign that surpassed initial expectations. The initiative, described by officials as a “historic hiring effort”, attracted nearly 220,000 applications nationwide. It was fuelled by incentives such as signing bonuses, the removal of age limits, and a narrative framed around the “patriotic defence” of the country.

Yet behind the figures and official rhetoric about strengthening law enforcement and protecting borders, troubling questions arise. What does this expansion mean for millions of undocumented people and their communities? Human rights organisations warn that such a dramatic increase in agents could lead to more operations, raids, and accelerated deportations, reviving fears many believed had faded after years of intense immigration debate.

For families like that of a Mexican mother who has lived in Texas for more than a decade and asked to remain anonymous, the announcement feels both abstract and deeply personal. “Every time I hear a helicopter or see a different patrol in my neighbourhood, my legs tremble,” she says. “I don’t know if this means they might come for my neighbour tomorrow, or for me.” Her words capture an anxiety that rarely appears in official statements but is shared quietly in shops, schools, and parks across cities with large immigrant populations.

Immigrant advocates also point out that the expansion coincides with policies designed to speed up deportations and tighten internal controls, with a particular focus on detaining people without serious criminal records. In their view, this historic hiring effort does more than boost ICE’s capacity. It reinforces a deterrence strategy whose social consequences could be deep and long-lasting.

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DHS officials, for their part, argue that the additional manpower will enable more effective arrests and stricter enforcement of immigration laws. They insist that agents are being trained to act professionally and with respect for civil rights. On the ground, however, the reality is still unfolding, marked by uncertainty, criticism, and a population watching closely as an agency that was until recently far smaller extends its reach.

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