
Police ICE
- 150 views
On Sunday, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted extensive immigration enforcement operations across several cities.
This marked a decisive move in what President Donald Trump has termed a new era of mass deportations. The operations primarily focused on apprehending migrants with criminal records, yet there are mounting concerns regarding the potential impact on individuals without criminal histories. Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, has shared details with NBC News about the operations, indicating that they resulted in the apprehension of several individuals convicted of serious offenses, including murder and sexual crimes.
Homan acknowledges the occurrence of collateral arrests during these raids, where individuals present without any criminal convictions may also be detained. ICE states that the operations are aimed at enforcing the US immigration laws and enhancing public safety by removing individuals classified as potentially dangerous from local communities. On Sunday alone, ICE reported a total of 956 arrests, representing the highest single-day count since the Trump administration began.
Since the start of Trump’s presidency, ICE has conducted at least 2,681 arrests, though the agency has not disclosed how many of those arrested have a documented criminal background. Among those detained in Chicago were individuals with convictions for serious sex offenses, gang affiliations, and previous convictions for murder and aggravated sexual battery. Homan indicates that operations might extend to sensitive areas including churches and schools following the Trump administration's reversal of previous policies that restricted enforcement in such locations.
He states that entry into these spaces would be decided on a case-by-case basis, prioritizing public safety. Citing internal sources, The Washington Post reports that officials have directed ICE to carry out daily arrests ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 individuals, a significant escalation from previous benchmarks. Homan confirms the intention to apprehend as many criminals as possible, although he denies any specific arrest quotas.
Local leaders have responded to the enforcement actions, with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson clarifying that local police did not partake in the operations. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expresses a nuanced stance, advocating for the deportation of dangerous criminals while opposing actions against law-abiding individuals. Pritzker emphasizes the importance of providing a pathway to citizenship and protecting lawful residents.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has also contributed to these operations. In Colorado, the DEA's Rocky Mountain Division, alongside federal and local partners, raided a makeshift nightclub in Adams County, resulting in nearly 50 arrests of individuals lacking authorization to remain in the country, many of whom had ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The raid yielded handguns, cash, and drugs and stemmed from an ongoing investigation initiated during the Biden administration.
Similar operations were reported in California, where the DEA’s divisions in Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as those in Phoenix and Atlanta, assisted other federal agencies. Homeland Security Investigations in Miami also participated in enforcing immigration laws.