United States authorities have apprehended 538 individuals in a sweeping immigration operation, deporting hundreds of undocumented migrants just days into President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a statement from his press secretary on Thursday.
“The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on social media platform X, adding that “hundreds” had been deported using military aircraft.
“The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept,” she declared.
Trump, who emphasized stricter immigration enforcement during his campaign, has started his second term with a series of executive orders designed to tighten U.S. border controls.
Among the measures, he has declared a “national emergency” at the southern border, ordered more troops to be stationed in the region, and reaffirmed his pledge to deport “criminal aliens.”
Newark city mayor Ras J. Baraka criticized the measures, stating on Thursday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “raided a local establishment… detaining undocumented residents as well as citizens, without producing a warrant.”
Additionally, earlier this week, the Republican-majority U.S. Congress approved legislation aimed at increasing pretrial detention for foreign criminal suspects.
(AFP