US Immigration Crackdown Happening Nation Wide

Source: Mark Makela / Getty

A nationwide immigration crackdown on Sunday resulted in the arrest of 956 people, the most since Donald Trump returned to power, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

A number of federal agencies with newly expanded detention powers were involved in the raids in a number of cities, including Chicago, Newark, and Miami. Trump came to power after making mass deportations of undocumented immigrants a central campaign promise. His predecessor Joe Biden carried out an average of 311 immigration deportations daily, according to ICE. The majority of individuals that have been taken by ICE had a criminal record.

Since taking office, Trump has carried out 21 executive actions to overhaul the US Immigration system. The 956 report arrest on Sunday follows 286 arrests on Saturday, 593 arrest of Friday and 538 arrest on Thursday.

Cities across the nation are all handling the ICE raids differently. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson acknowledged the ICE enforcement activity, saying Chicago police were not involved and reminding residents to know their rights. In Miami on Sunday, deferral law enforcement agencies conducted several “immigration enforcement actions,” the city’s Homeland Security Investigation posted on their social media.

Last week, Newark Mayor Ray Barka said undocumented residents and citizens – including one military veteran – were detained without a warrant during and ICE raid of a local business. Mayor Barka stated: “Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized.”