Nationwide ICE operations ramp up under Trump's directives
Authorities have initiated nationwide operations today targeting illegal immigrants considered a public threat, Tom Homan, the head of the White House Immigration and Customs Service, announced on Tuesday. The official added that while the primary focus is on individuals convicted of crimes, other illegal immigrants will also be apprehended.
Homan—who Trump himself referred to as the "border czar" during a conversation with CNN—discussed the planned operations against illegal immigrants, stating that he prefers using the term "targeted operations" rather than "raids." He explained that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have resumed their duties, which had been disrupted over the past four years.
The official responsible for overseeing the deportations announced by Donald Trump stated that ICE is actively enforcing the law in the field, with a primary focus on addressing public safety threats.
Homan noted that the operations primarily focus on individuals convicted of crimes, but other illegal immigrants in the area may also be detained. He pointed out that this is due to city regulations restricting ICE's access to local jails.
The official responsible for overseeing the deportations announced by Donald Trump stated that ICE is actively enforcing the law in the field, with a primary focus on addressing public safety threats.
According to Fox News, on the first day of the new administration's operations, rules prohibiting arrests in "sensitive locations," such as schools or churches, were revoked.
Homan did not disclose details of Monday's ICE operations, merely stating that they are occurring across the entire country. The operations were initially set to commence in Chicago, but according to CNN, these plans changed following a media leak.
The official noted that despite a record number of deportations last year – over 220,000 – the previous administration did not fully execute its responsibilities, and most of these operations were conducted by the border patrol and involved individuals detained soon after crossing the border.
Homan also emphasised that Donald Trump's executive orders, such as the suspension of new refugee admissions, remain unchanged. According to CNN, these decisions will impact, among others, former collaborators of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and their families, as well as the families of American soldiers from that region.
On Monday, Trump also signed other orders related to immigration, including declaring a state of emergency at the Mexican border and recognising illegal immigration as an "invasion" necessitating the deployment of additional armed forces. There was also a total halt to the right to apply for asylum and the automatic return of migrants crossing the border outside designated crossings.
