ICE detentions hit record high in July under Trump

Detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement reached a monthly record high in July during President Trump's second term, according to internal agency data.2,6 The record high detentions occurred as ICE widened its enforcement crackdown, according to CBS News reporting.2,6 Four detainees died in ICE custody in July, including Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, 41, who was held at Delaney Hall in Newark after being arrested June 18.9

A poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center found that 39 percent of respondents approved of President Trump's handling of immigration, a 10-point decrease from the start of his second term.8 Immigration remained a stronger issue for President Trump than the economy or Iran, according to an AP-NORC poll conducted after three people were killed in encounters with ICE in July.1 The Justice Department has used federal conspiracy charges to prosecute ICE protesters, according to NPR reporting.3

Internal documents showed ICE collected DNA from nearly one million people last year, including young children, and entered the data into an FBI criminal database.4 Frustration grew among lawmakers over a lack of information about the U.S.-Iran conflict, with both Republican and Democratic legislators expressing concerns.5,7 President Trump called off an apparent planned attack on Iran, which Iran disputed by stating it was not re-entering negotiations with the U.S.5,7