Over 1,300 immigrants were arrested in just one week under the Trump administration, according to Tom Homan, a senior border official. This represents more than 1% of all arrests conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the year 2024.
With these arrests, the daily average has risen from 310 to 433, a figure that could increase further, NewsNation reports.
A Focus on Criminals and Fugitives
Of the 1,300 individuals apprehended, “at least 1,000 have criminal records,” Homan stated in an interview with NewsNation.
The remaining individuals arrested were fugitives who ignored immigration court rulings or “collaterals” apprehended in sanctuary cities.
These sanctuary cities, according to Homan, hinder ICE operations by refusing to cooperate with federal authorities.
By “collaterals,” Tom Homan refers to individuals with no criminal history and valid immigration documents, but who were nonetheless arrested for failing to cooperate with federal agents.
Raids Conducted in Several Major Cities
Raids were carried out in several major cities, including Boston, Miami, Newark, Seattle, and New York.
Some of these cities, like Newark and Chicago, have implemented sanctuary laws that protect undocumented immigrants by limiting cooperation with federal authorities.
In Newark, Mayor Ras Baraka condemned these operations, alleging that federal agents made arrests without warrants, including “American citizens, a military veteran, and undocumented individuals.”
“Newark will not stand by while people are illegally terrorized,” Baraka declared in a statement relayed by NewsNation.
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson responded by launching an informational campaign to educate migrants about their rights. “Know Your Rights” messages are now displayed at train stations.
“We will defend our city against any measures targeting migrant workers,” Johnson affirmed, as quoted by NewsNation.
Criticism of Sanctuary Cities
Tom Homan harshly criticized sanctuary cities, arguing that they endanger local communities by forcing ICE agents to conduct operations directly in neighborhoods.
“If they allowed us to operate in local jails, we wouldn’t have to go into communities,” he explained during his interview with NewsNation.
He argued that such cooperation would reduce collateral arrests and minimize risks for agents, migrants, and the public.
“When we are forced to go into neighborhoods, sanctuary cities end up with exactly what they’re trying to avoid: more agents in communities and more collateral arrests,” Homan added.
End of Restrictions Imposed by the Biden Administration
The Trump administration has also eliminated restrictions introduced by Joe Biden, which limited ICE arrests to migrants convicted of serious crimes.
“There’s nothing in immigration law that requires a criminal conviction for deportation. If you’re here illegally, you can be removed,” Homan stated during his interview with NewsNation.
As arrests continue to rise under the Trump administration, the debate over migrants’ rights and sanctuary city policies remains more polarized than ever.
This article is based on information reported by NewsNation.