In the initial week following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, under the direction of Border Czar Tom Homan, have arrested more than 2,500 individuals residing illegally in the United States.
Key Highlights:
- Nationwide Raids: On Sunday alone, ICE conducted operations resulting in 956 arrests across various cities, including “sanctuary cities” like Chicago and Los Angeles. These efforts targeted individuals with criminal convictions, particularly those posing public safety threats.
- Collateral Arrests: In addition to primary targets, ICE agents also detained other illegal immigrants encountered during operations. Homan emphasized that in sanctuary cities, if they cannot apprehend a target in jail, they will locate them in the community, and any other illegal individuals found in the process will also be detained.
- Interagency Collaboration: Other federal agencies have supported these enforcement actions. For instance, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) arrested 50 individuals at a makeshift nightclub in Colorado, many of whom were linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
- Military Involvement: Branches of the U.S. military, including the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard, have been deployed to assist in preventing illegal border crossings, highlighting the administration’s comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement.
- Public Engagement: Television personality Dr. Phil McGraw accompanied ICE agents in Chicago during the arrest of a Thai national convicted of child sex offenses. This collaboration aimed to shed light on the challenges posed by sanctuary city policies, which, according to Homan, allow dangerous individuals to remain at large.
These actions align with President Trump’s commitment to intensify immigration enforcement and prioritize the removal of individuals who threaten public safety. The administration has signaled that such operations will continue as part of its broader strategy to uphold immigration laws and enhance national security.