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In a significant crackdown, US authorities apprehended 538 migrants and deported hundreds shortly after President Donald Trump began his second term, as reported by his press secretary on Thursday evening.
Karoline Leavitt shared on social media that “the Trump Administration has taken decisive action against 538 illegal immigrant criminals,” noting that military aircraft were used to deport “hundreds” of individuals.
She emphasized that “the largest mass deportation operation in history is in full swing. Promises made, promises kept.”
During his election campaign, Trump pledged to intensify efforts against illegal immigration and commenced his second term with a series of executive actions designed to reform the process of entering the United States.
On Thursday, Newark’s mayor, Ras J. Baraka, issued a statement indicating that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted a raid on a local business, apprehending both undocumented individuals and citizens without presenting a warrant.
The mayor highlighted that among those detained was a US military veteran, asserting that “this egregious act is in clear violation” of the US Constitution.
An announcement from ICE on X indicated: “Enforcement update … 538 arrests, 373 detainers lodged.”
New Jersey Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim expressed their profound concern regarding the immigration agents’ raid in Newark. They stated in a joint statement, “Such actions instill fear within our communities — our flawed immigration system necessitates solutions rather than intimidation tactics.”
Trump has pledged to execute “the largest deportation operation in American history,” which could affect approximately 11 million undocumented individuals residing in the United States.
On his inaugural day in office, he issued orders that declared a “national emergency” at the southern border and revealed plans to increase troop presence in the region while committing to the deportation of “criminal aliens.”
The administration announced its intention to reinstate a “Remain in Mexico” policy that was in effect during the initial term of Trump’s presidency. This policy mandates that individuals seeking entry into the United States from Mexico must remain in Mexico while their applications are being processed.
Additionally, the White House has suspended an asylum program designed for individuals escaping authoritarian governments in Central and South America, resulting in thousands of individuals being left stranded on the Mexican side of the border.
Earlier this week, the Republican-controlled United States Congress approved legislation aimed at increasing pretrial detention for foreign criminal suspects.
Trump often employed ominous language, suggesting that illegal immigration was “poisoning the blood” of the nation, a phrase that opponents have likened to rhetoric used in Nazi Germany.
