United States authorities have arrested 538 illegal migrants and deported hundreds in a large-scale operation conducted just days into President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a statement from his press secretary late Thursday.
“The Trump Administration has apprehended 538 undocumented immigrant offenders,” said Karoline Leavitt in a post on the social media platform X. She added that “hundreds” had already been deported via military aircraft.
“This marks the beginning of the largest deportation operation in history. Promises made, promises kept,” Leavitt stated.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to crack down on illegal immigration and has started his second term with a series of executive actions aimed at reforming U.S. immigration policies.
President Donald Trump has signed executive orders declaring a “national emergency” at the southern border and announced the deployment of additional troops to the area, while pledging to accelerate the deportation of “criminal aliens.”
On Thursday, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka issued a statement condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for conducting a raid on a local establishment. The operation reportedly resulted in the detention of both undocumented residents and U.S. citizens, allegedly without a warrant.
Earlier in the week, the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress approved a bill to expand pretrial incarceration for foreign nationals suspected of criminal activity.
