Trump Administration Launches Major Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants: Hundreds Arrested, Deportations Carried Out
By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
Texas: The Trump administration has launched a wide-ranging crackdown on illegal immigrants. On Thursday, 538 illegal immigrants were arrested, including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several individuals involved in child sex crimes. Furthermore, hundreds of people were deported using military aircraft. According to defense officials, two military planes were sent to Guatemala, deporting a total of 265 individuals. The first plane departed from El Paso, Texas, carrying 80 people, while the second plane took off from Tucson with another 80 individuals. A third plane later departed from El Paso, Texas, carrying 105 deportees.
During a press conference in North Carolina, President Donald Trump stated, “We are removing dangerous and hardened criminals. These individuals have been involved in the worst crimes, and we are prioritizing them first.”
Since Trump’s arrival in office, there has been an increase in military and border operations across the United States. The Trump administration has also issued directives to enhance military and other resources to enforce immigration laws, including an executive order to deploy 1,500 additional troops to the border. Defense officials are planning to deploy an additional 10,000 troops. In Texas, the military is assisting in constructing barbed-wire fencing and barriers along the Mexican border.
Following the tightening of immigration laws, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been instructed to deport individuals who enter the country illegally immediately, without allowing them to apply for asylum. In response to these events, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka of New Jersey accused ICE officials of detaining both citizens and undocumented immigrants without warrants, including a former military veteran.
According to U.S. media reports, Mexico initially refused to allow an American military plane to land in its territory on Thursday. However, U.S. officials later clarified that this issue was an administrative matter and was quickly resolved. Mexico accepted four flights, which were chartered by ICE Air Operations and not military aircraft.
On Thursday, two planes departed for Guatemala, both Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying approximately 80 passengers each. Additionally, three flights left the U.S. for Guatemala on Friday, returning about 265 Guatemalan nationals to their home country.
It is worth noting that U.S.-Mexico relations, historically close and cooperative, have faced increased tensions since President Trump took office. Trump has threatened to impose a 25% uniform tariff on Mexico to curb the flow of migrants entering the U.S. through the shared border. However, this tariff has not yet been implemented.
Human rights organizations in the U.S. have criticized the administration’s immigration policies, warning that the crackdown could mistakenly target citizens and legally residing individuals. Reports indicate that between 2015 and 2020, 70 U.S. citizens were mistakenly deported.
The Trump administration has made immigration a key priority at the start of its second term. However, this campaign has faced criticism for alleged violations of human rights and due process. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 373 of the 538 individuals arrested had criminal records, while 165 were detained solely for immigration law violations. Senior administration officials reported that a total of 1,041 individuals were deported on Thursday alone.
