U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported 969 arrests of illegal aliens on Monday, marking the highest number of single-day arrests under President Donald Trump’s administration and a significant escalation in immigration enforcement.
This figure, recorded just seven days into Trump’s second term, dwarfs the Biden administration’s daily ICE apprehension average of approximately 310 arrests during fiscal year 2024.
ICE highlighted several high-profile arrests during Monday’s operation, including a convicted child rapist, an MS-13 gang member wanted for murder, and a suspect with ties to ISIS.
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Among the operations, ICE conducted a large-scale crackdown in Chicago, a sanctuary city where local officials have publicly opposed federal immigration policies. The operation, carried out in coordination with federal agencies such as the FBI, ATF, DEA, and U.S. Marshals, aimed to remove criminal aliens from the community.
“Today’s targeted operations are a critical step toward enforcing U.S. immigration law and safeguarding public safety by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities,” ICE stated.
These arrests build on the administration’s ramped-up efforts to address illegal immigration, bringing the total number of ICE apprehensions in the past week to over 2,000. This includes approximately 1,300 arrests announced by Border Czar Tom Homan on Thursday.
President Trump has taken additional measures to expedite deportations, signing an executive order declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. The order allows for increased deployment of troops and military aircraft to assist in deportation operations. The administration has also expanded the use of expedited removal, permitting ICE to bypass immigration courts and quickly deport individuals from anywhere in the country.
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Moreover, ICE has removed restrictions on enforcement activities in sensitive locations, such as schools and hospitals, allowing agents greater flexibility in their operations.
The Trump administration is also cracking down on recalcitrant countries that resist accepting deported citizens.
Over the weekend, Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially refused to accept deportation flights, citing concerns about the treatment of his nationals. Trump responded with threats of steep tariffs on Colombian imports. Under pressure, Petro reversed his stance and even offered his presidential plane to assist in the deportations.
The sharp increase in arrests underscores Trump’s commitment to fulfilling campaign promises to strengthen immigration enforcement and deport criminal aliens. While ICE operations are ramping up, the administration acknowledges the scale of the challenge, particularly given the significant influx of illegal immigration during the Biden administration. In fiscal year 2023, Customs and Border Protection recorded an average of 5,600 daily encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border.
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