ICE tracking 1.6M illegal immigrants with deportation orders, half with criminal convictions: chief

"What we're tracking right now is about 1.6 million final [deportation] orders in the United States, with approximately 800,000 of those having criminal convictions," Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said

Published: February 13, 2026 9:28am

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is tracking 1.6 million illegal immigrants with final deportation orders, half of whom have criminal convictions, according to acting Director Todd Lyons.

"What we're tracking right now is about 1.6 million final [deportation] orders in the United States, with approximately 800,000 of those having criminal convictions," Lyons on Thursday told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, acccor ding to Fox News.

He also said deportation orders have come "through an immigration judge with the Department of Justice, separate from Immigration [and] Customs Enforcement."

"There's 16,840 final orders at large in the state of Minnesota," Lyons continued.

His testimony came the same day that border czar Tom Homan announced the end of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration in Minnesota.

“As a result of our efforts here, Minnesota is now less of a sanctuary state for criminals,” Homan said at a news conference. “I have proposed and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude.”

ICE launched the crackdown, called Operation Metro Surge, on Dec. 1.

According to federal authorities, the crackdown focused on the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, and led to the arrest of more than 4,000 people.

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