Washington (TDI): US authorities arrested 538 immigrants and deported hundreds in a mass operation just days into President Donald Trump’s second administration, his press secretary said late Thursday.
“Authorities detained 538 illegal immigrant,” Karoline Leavitt announced in a statement, adding “hundreds” were deported by a military plane.
“The largest massive deportation operation in history is underway. We kept the promise,” she said.
Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigration during the election campaign and started his second term with a flurry of executive actions aimed at overhauling entry to the US.
On Thursday Newark city mayor Ras J Baraka said in a statement that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “raided a local establishment, detaining undocumented residents as well as nationals, without producing a warrant”.
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The mayor states one of those arrested during the raid was a US military veteran, “this egregious act is in plain violation” of the United States Constitution.
New Jersey Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim said they were very concerned about the Newark raid by immigration agents.
“Actions like this instill fear in our communities, highlighting the need for solutions to our broken immigration system, not fear tactics,” they stated in a joint statement.
Largest Deportation Operation in US History
Trump has vowed largest deportation operation in US history, targeting 11 million undocumented migrants.
On his first day in office he issued orders declaring a “national emergency” at the southern border and announced the deployment of more troops to the area while pledging to deport “criminal aliens.”
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His administration plans to reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring applicants to stay in Mexico until their US entry request is processed.
The White House has also stopped an asylum programme for people fleeing authoritarian regimes in Central and South America, leaving thousands of people stranded on the Mexican side of the border.