
USA
- 680 views
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has initiated a substantial operation targeting over 1.4 million noncitizens across 187 countries, which includes 1,282 individuals from Kenya, for potential deportation.
This operation, characterized by ICE as a standard enforcement action, is aimed at removing individuals residing in the United States without legal authorization. ICE asserts that the individuals in question have either violated immigration laws or committed other offences that warrant deportation, emphasizing adherence to federal law and the protection of due process rights throughout the process.
The approach to immigration enforcement in the United States has undergone significant shifts in recent years, particularly under the administration of President Donald Trump. Shortly after taking office, Trump empowered immigration authorities to expedite the expulsion of undocumented migrants by bypassing judicial oversight.
This policy resulted in heightened enforcement actions, including workplace raids in cities like Chicago and Newark, New Jersey, which elicited criticism from local officials such as Newark's mayor, Ras Baraka, who condemned the operations as unconstitutional. Since Trump assumed the presidency on January 20, his administration has committed to unprecedented levels of immigration enforcement, often described as the "largest deportation operation" in the US history.
A notable nationwide crackdown on a recent Sunday led to the arrest of 956 individuals, marking the highest figure since he regained office. Multiple federal agencies, now equipped with expanded detention capabilities, participated in operations spanning cities including Chicago, Newark, and Miami.
These aggressive enforcement measures have remained central to Trump’s immigration policy, reflecting a campaign pledge to reform the immigration system significantly. In contrast, Trump’s predecessor, President Joe Biden, managed deportations at an average rate of 311 individuals per day, primarily targeting individuals with criminal records.
Since taking office, Trump has implemented 21 executive actions aimed at reshaping the US immigration policy, indicating a broader strategy to enforce immigration laws more rigorously and to eliminate individuals who do not comply with legal requirements or court orders. The ramifications of this intensified immigration enforcement strategy are profound and have ignited significant debate.
Critics argue that such measures compromise constitutional rights and due process, while supporters assert the need for these actions to uphold the rule of law and enhance national security.