United States authorities have arrested 538 illegal migrants and deported hundreds more in a large-scale operation just days into President Donald Trump’s second term.
This was confirmed by the President’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, in a statement late Thursday.
“The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals,” Leavitt wrote in a post on social platform X, adding that “hundreds” of those apprehended were deported via military aircraft. She described the action as “the largest massive deportation operation in history,” reiterating the administration’s commitment to campaign promises. “Promises made. Promises kept,” she added.
President Trump, who campaigned on a tough stance against illegal immigration, has started his second term with a series of executive orders aimed at tightening border security and reshaping the nation’s immigration policies.
He declared a “national emergency” at the southern border and announced an increased military presence in the area. Speaking about his administration’s priorities, Trump vowed to deport individuals he referred to as “criminal aliens” as part of an intensified immigration enforcement agenda.
In Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras J. Baraka criticised the methods employed during one of the raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In a statement issued early Thursday, Baraka said:
“ICE agents raided a local establishment… detaining undocumented residents as well as citizens, without producing a warrant.”
The incident has sparked concerns among immigrant rights advocates and local officials, who argue that such actions may overstep legal boundaries.
Earlier in the week, the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress passed legislation to expand pretrial incarceration for foreign criminal suspects. The bill is seen as a measure to strengthen Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy by keeping foreign nationals in custody while their cases are processed.
As the administration presses forward with its intensified approach to immigration, critics continue to raise questions about the legal and humanitarian implications of these policies, while supporters applaud the President for following through on his promises to prioritise border security and public safety.
