ICE arrests surge under invisibilized tactics
The gist
ICE recorded 50,925 arrests in August 2026, its third straight monthly record.
The shift to plainclothes tactics means fewer people see the enforcement happening.
How it unfolded
- Dec 2024Nearly 60% of those arrested by ICE had criminal records.
- 2025Armored military vehicles roamed residential neighborhoods and masked agents patrolled parks and schools, sparking a political crisis; two American citizens died during a massive operation in Minneapolis.
- Feb 2026President Donald Trump acknowledged the approach needed to change, saying "I learned that maybe we could use a little softer touch."