Texas Leads the Nation in ICE Arrests Amid Shifting Enforcement Trends

By John W. Lawit and Madeline Carles, Paralegal Intern 

Authors’ Note: John W. Lawit is an attorney at law. Madeline Carles is a paralegal intern, not a practicing attorney. This article is written for educational purposes and informational purposes, and does not constitute legal advice.

Key Summary:

• Texas recorded more than 153,000 arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) between October 2022 and March 2026, far outpacing any other state.
• The state led the nation in population-adjusted metrics, averaging 140.75 ICE arrests annually per 100,000 residents.
• In July 2026, Texas accounted for approximately one-third of the national total of ICE arrests.
• Enforcement tactics are shifting, with a surge in field-based arrests in public areas and data showing non-criminal immigrants have increasingly become the primary target.
• Certain regions have seen dramatic spikes; the San Antonio ICE field office, which covers Austin, saw monthly arrests climb from an average of 565 between 2022 and 2024 to 3,077 by July 2026.

Texas Tops the Nation in Immigration Arrests 

Recent analyses of immigration enforcement data indicate that Texas leads the United States in ICE administrative arrests by a significant margin. Texas recorded more than 153,000 ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations arrests between October 2022 and March 2026. This surge highlights how the state has become the epicenter of federal immigration enforcement activity.

When adjusted for population, Texas ranks first nationally, with an average of 140.75 ICE arrests annually per 100,000 residents. By comparison, the state with the second-highest rate, New Jersey, recorded 74.01 arrests per 100,000 residents. Other leading states included Louisiana at 73.86, Oklahoma at 72.71, and Wyoming at 69.72. While Wyoming only had 1,432 total arrests over this period, its smaller population placed its rate above highly populated states.

Comparing Texas to Other Major States 

The concentration of enforcement in Texas is even more pronounced when looking at recent monthly data. In July 2026 alone, Texas accounted for approximately a third of all ICE arrests nationwide. Florida followed as a distant second, comprising 22% of the national total, while California accounted for 12%. Every other state across the country made up 3% or less of the national share.

Furthermore, data spanning from a nationwide crackdown starting in January 2025 to late July 2025 demonstrates that nearly 1 in 4 of all ICE arrests—amounting to a portion of the 138,068 arrests nationwide—occurred within Texas. This heavy concentration of enforcement is driven significantly by state-level cooperation, with Governor Greg Abbott directing the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and other state agencies to assist federal immigration efforts.

Localized Surges and Changing Tactics 

The enforcement landscape within Texas has not been uniform, with certain regions experiencing massive operational escalations. ICE has divided Texas into five jurisdictions, and the San Antonio field office—which covers Austin and much of Central Texas—has seen one of the steepest increases. Between 2022 and the end of 2024, the San Antonio office made an average of 565 arrests per month; by July 2026, that number skyrocketed to 3,077 monthly arrests.

Additionally, the nature of these apprehensions has shifted. The share of “field-based” arrests—those made in public spaces rather than transfers from jail custody—has increased in four of the five Texas ICE field offices since January 2025. Concurrently, data indicates that non-criminal immigrants have become ICE’s primary target in Texas. Over a one-year period, more than 38,000 Texans with no criminal record were arrested by ICE, outnumbering those with criminal convictions.

Preparing an Action Plan 

Given the sharp increase in enforcement, it is advised that individuals take all possible steps to avoid ICE contact. If an interaction with ICE is unavoidable, it is critical to have an action plan in place to address the possibility of unexpected detention and subsequent Immigration Court proceedings. A comprehensive plan should include memorizing emergency contacts and the phone number of an immigration lawyer. Individuals should also designate a trusted caregiver for children and keep copies of essential identification and immigration documents in a secure, accessible location. Crucially, everyone has the right to remain silent, refuse entry to their home without a judicial warrant, and decline to sign any documents without legal counsel present. 

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and policies can change, and individuals should consult with a qualified immigration attorney regarding their specific circumstances. If you have questions, please call John W. Lawit, LLC at 214-609-2242.