Reports emerged that the number of illegal migrants arrested nationwide had significantly increased in the first four days of President Donald Trump’s administration. The spike in arrests coincided with the start of the new administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies, which were a key campaign pledge made by Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported a dramatic rise in detentions during these first few days, especially in regions with high immigrant populations. The president’s executive orders to strengthen border security and prioritize the deportation of undocumented immigrants, particularly those with criminal records or who posed security risks, were perceived as the direct cause of the increased enforcement.
The administration’s detractors feared that the crackdown was too broad and targeted both people with and without criminal histories. Many drew attention to the fact that a sizable portion of those detained were not the top offenders Trump’s team had pledged to target. The raids caused fear and confusion among both legal and illegal immigrants, according to immigration advocates, who also said that they disproportionately harmed families and communities.
Trump supporters, meanwhile, praised the measures as essential to securing the country’s borders and reestablishing the rule of law. They saw the arrests as an indication that the president was keeping his pledges to reduce illegal immigration and improve security.
This early wave of enforcement would