The Trump administration launched immediate immigration enforcement action that caused migrant arrests to substantially increase after one month of Trump’s presidency.
The day he took office on January 20, 2025 Trump immediately deployed executive orders to strengthen border security as well as enhance immigration enforcement operations.
A pivotal directive was the immediate cessation of the “catch-and-release” policy, which previously allowed migrants awaiting immigration hearings to remain free within the U.S.
The updated policy requires Border Patrol to confine all individuals who attempt unauthorized border crossings for complete deportation procedures.
The administration demonstrates strong determination to stop unapproved migration and quickly remove people who lack proper immigration status through this new policy.
ICE saw an enormous rise in detainee numbers during this time period after the administration executed its policy changes.
ICE officers captured about 11,000 people suspected of breaking immigration regulations in the twenty-eight days following the presidential inauguration.
The current administration’s arrest total for fiscal year 2024 was 33,000 while the first eighteen days delivered 11,000 arrests.
As part of the detention operations ICE apprehended serious offenders who had connections with Mexican cartels and the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang.
ICE facilities are currently overwhelmed by the extreme rise in detentions thus the agency must find more detention areas to accommodate the growing population.
ICE currently uses four rehabilitated federal prisons for detainee housing while researching the potential use of Guantanamo Bay detention center among other facilities.
Modern facilities are being expanded until they reach their capacity to house up to 30,000 people so the administration can maintain current border protections.
The administration supports the heightened enforcement levels by carrying out multiple policy adjustments.
The administration terminated the CBP One app because they viewed it as an opportunity to block what they deemed to be asylum process weaknesses.
Through Foreign Terrorist Organization classification the administration gave increased powers to agencies for fighting MS-13 and Tren de Aragua along with several other international groups.
The policy to keep migrants at Guantanamo Bay represents the administration’s most unpopular initiative due to its application against dangerous immigrants and members of criminal organizations.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stated that within a single month approximately 20,000 criminals faced arrest.
The 22 persons arrested included 22 suspected terrorist members along with 640 suspected gang members.
ICE discontinued its practice of releasing details about daily arrests after starting this practice.
The most arrests performed by ICE during a single day resulted in apprehension of people who had previously been convicted of crimes.
Policy enforcement reports indicate Trump holds unreasonable expectations about the deportations happening too slowly.
The former president has expressed his discontent toward NBC News about how slowly individuals are removed from the United States nation.
The Department of Homeland Security officially announced that ICE acting Director Caleb Vitello received a different assignment following this development.
The upcoming standing replacement administrator takes his position to lead mass deportation operations with a primary objective of quick deportation processes.
Executive spokesperson Kush Desai stated that the administration has not changed its position on tight border policies.
“Hundreds of violent, predatory, and gang-affiliated criminal illegal aliens have already been rounded up and deported by ICE since President Trump took office and the Trump administration is aligned on securing our borders and ensuring that mass deportations are conducted quickly and effectively to put Americans and America First.”
The rapid immigration enforcement restructuring efforts pushed forward by Trump create an ongoing controversy between supporters and opponents.
Supporters of the administration’s crackdown operations applaud the policy changes but deportations and mass arrests draw criticism for their methods and consequences.
