Delivering on the promise to apprehend and deport “illegal criminals” from the United States, the Donald Trump-led administration launched a mass crackdown on Friday, January 24, arresting over 500 migrants. As many as 373 other migrants have been deported by military aircraft off the United States.
The mass crackdown on the immigrants have come days after Donald Trump took oath of office to become the 47th President of the US.
In a post on social media platform X, Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s press secretary said, “The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors.”
She added that hundreds of “illegal immigrant criminals” had been deported via military aircraft.
“The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept,” she said in another post.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) also confirmed the arrests and said that 373 detainers (criminal non-citizens) had been lodged in jail.
The move comes after Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders on his first day of office that were aimed to tightening border security and facilitating the deportation of undocumented immigrants in the country.
U.S. President Donald Trump in his inaugural speech emphasized a “revolution of common sense” as he outlined his administration’s priorities. He declared a national emergency at the southern border, pledging to halt all illegal entries and initiate the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants.
There are an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants in the United States, according to the Office of Homeland Security Statistics.
The Democratic mayor of the city of Newark, New Jersey, Ras Baraka, said in a statement on Thursday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “raided a local establishment… detaining undocumented residents as well as citizens, without producing a warrant”.
Baraka said one of those detained during the raid was a US military veteran.
How were the illegal immigrants arrested and deported?
According to Newark city mayor Ras J Baraka, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Thursday raided a local establishment and detailed hundreds without producing a warrant.
He said, the immigration agents “raided a local establishment and detaining undocumented residents as well as citizens, without producing a warrant.” Also Read | Here’s how Donald Trump reversed Biden-era policies, from ‘only two sexes’ to ‘trade policies’ | Rundown
The mayor said one of those detained during the raid was a US military veteran. He alleged that “this egregious act is in plain violation of the US Constitution.”
Meanwhile, the White House has also paused its asylum program, leaving hundreds stranded on the borders.
