enforcement

US immigration enforcement has intensified with a State Department pause on immigrant visas, record 49,571 arrests in July, and a $16.7 million contract for electric-shock gloves. Two ICE shootings in Minnesota and Texas add to the controversy, while a judge refused to force extradition of an agent. Internationals in the Netherlands should be aware of the impact on visa applications and the broader enforcement climate.

ICE arrested 49,571 people in July 2026, the highest monthly total of Trump's second term. Over 1,300 arrests in Virginia and Maryland were called among the most successful in DHS history. The State Department also paused immigrant visa applications on August 26.