U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed on Thursday, 12 November, that it deported 483,200 people in FY 2026—its highest annual total since the agency’s creation in 2003. The figure marks a 78 percent jump from FY 2024, the last year of the Biden administration, and follows a 9 percent rise over FY 2025. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin credited increased funding for removal flights and additional enforcement personnel authorized by President Trump upon returning to office. Detailed demographic and criminal-history data were not released, drawing criticism from a Democratically controlled Congress that has vowed aggressive oversight. For employers, the surge underscores the importance of I-9 self-audits, E-Verify monitoring and proactive remediation of data mismatches. Industries relying on seasonal or undocumented labor—including hospitality, construction and food processing—are bracing for more high-profile worksite raids, which rose 42 percent last year. Mobility teams shepherding intra-company transfers should note that adjudication times for extension-of-stay petitions have improved as resources shift toward removals, but requests for evidence on status violations have also spiked. Legal counsel recommend keeping travel histories and pay records up to date to reduce exposure during any site visit or investigation.
Source: Associated Press
