20,000 Migrants Arrested in US Capital Region

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested nearly 20,000 undocumented migrants in the Washington, DC, region since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to federal data and recent reporting.

The figure, which includes arrests across Washington, Maryland, and Virginia, marks a sharp increase in immigration enforcement compared to previous years. An analysis by The Washington Post found that during the final year of President Joe Biden’s administration, ICE carried out approximately 3,800 arrests in the same region.

While enforcement activity surged over the past year, arrest levels in Washington, DC, itself have declined notably since December. However, the pace of arrests in neighboring Maryland and Virginia has remained relatively steady.

Local officials and immigrant advocacy groups say there is little evidence that enforcement efforts are slowing overall. Advocates report that many arrests continue to occur during routine check-ins, when migrants attempt to comply with immigration requirements.

The rise in arrests aligns with President Trump’s renewed focus on curbing illegal immigration, a central pillar of his 2024 campaign. The administration has intensified enforcement measures nationwide, emphasizing detention and removal operations.

Earlier this year, then–Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised the administration’s immigration crackdown, citing figures that some experts later questioned. According to the Associated Press, deportations during Trump’s first year back in office reached roughly 400,000.

Noem, however, claimed that nearly 3 million undocumented migrants left the US during that period, including an estimated 2.2 million voluntary departures and more than 675,000 deportations. She also stated that 70 percent of those arrested by ICE had prior criminal convictions or pending charges.

Federal data presents a more nuanced picture. Of roughly 19,500 individuals arrested in the Washington, DC, region between January 20, 2025, and March 10, 2026, about 11,600, around 60 percent, had no prior criminal record.

Noem was dismissed in early March following scrutiny over her leadership and handling of a fatal shooting involving federal officers during protests tied to immigration enforcement in Minnesota. She was succeeded by Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, who was confirmed by the Senate later that month.

The developments highlight the scale and controversy surrounding the administration’s immigration strategy, as enforcement intensifies and debate continues over its impact on communities across the US.