A nationwide immigration sweep on Sunday led to the apprehension of 956 individuals, marking the highest number of arrests since Donald Trump resumed office, as reported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Multiple federal agencies with newly granted detention authority participated in the raids across several cities, including Chicago, Newark, New Jersey, and Miami.
Trump assumed office after making large-scale deportations of undocumented immigrants a pivotal aspect of his campaign promises.
His predecessor, Joe Biden, executed an average of 311 deportations per day, primarily targeting individuals with criminal records, according to ICE. Since taking office, Trump has implemented 21 executive orders to reform the U.S. immigration system.
Tom Homan, who serves as Trump’s border czar, was present in Chicago to oversee the operation, but this federal initiative has upset Democratic leaders. Homan has consistently said that undocumented individuals apprehended alongside criminals during raids will also face deportation.
He added that his expectation for the numbers of arrests and deportations to “steadily increase,” emphasising that the current focus is on addressing “public safety threats” and “national security threats.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson acknowledged the ICE enforcement efforts, clarifying that the city’s police were not involved, and reminded residents of their rights.
Immigration advocates have cautioned that during ICE operations, innocent individuals, including U.S. citizens, may inadvertently be affected.
The 956 arrests reported on Sunday followed 286 arrests on Saturday, 593 on Friday, and 538 on Thursday.
