AN ILLEGAL immigrant crackdown has seen nearly 1,000 arrested over just one day as Donald Trump picks up the pace on deporting criminals.
The 47th president is swiftly taking action by targeting individuals accused of heinous crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, sexual offenses, and even terrorism, who have no place in the United States.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out raids in at least 12 cities across the US on Sunday and said it made some 956 arrests.
That’s double the 500 that were arrested on the first two days of Trump’s presidency last week.
ICE carried out the latest raids in cities including Chicago, Denver, Austin, and Los Angeles.
In Chicago, Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan and Dr Phil were embedded with ICE agents as they carried out one arrest in a suburban neighbourhood.
There, they found and arrested an “illegal alien convicted of sex crimes involving children,” Homan claimed.
Dr Phil asked the man, Sam Seda from Thailand, if he had been charged with sex crimes against children.
Seda replied: “Not really.”
A stunned Dr Phil replied: “Not really?… And never been deported?”
“Nope,” Seda said.
In Denver, ICE arrested 49 “illegal aliens” allegedly from the Tren de Aragua gang in an early morning raid on a “makeshift nightclub”, the DEA said.
Law enforcement officers were spotted in the snowy scene, having apprehended alleged gang members who were positioned against a wall with their hands restrained behind them.
This operation was linked to a DEA probe into drug trafficking that had commenced before Trump assumed office, according to information provided by a DEA representative to local affiliate KDVR.
A number of seemingly sick individuals have also been arrested as immigration raids have sped up over the past week.
As part of the nationwide raids a Jordanian with suspected ties to ISIS was busted by ICE in Buffalo on January 24, according to the White House.
In a shocking case, a 59-year-old Dominican Republican national was living free in Boston despite a criminal conviction for second-degree murder.
Homan slammed Democratic politicians who he said “want to vilify the men of ICE”.
Democratic mayors are worried about ICE acting unlawfully or arresting non-violent illegal immigrants.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said: “I sincerely hope that ICE remains focused on enforcement actions related to violent and serious criminals harming our city.
“Not neighbors who are contributing and law-abiding members of our community.”
The average number of arrests in 2024 was 310, but that number now sits at 433 and is expected to grow.
However, Trump is disappointed with the figures and said he wants ICE field offices to make 75 arrests each day.
ICE officials have been now directed by Trump to increase the number of daily arrests to between 1,200 and 1,500, according to the Washington Post.
Trump’s strong America First policy has already seen a row erupt with Colombia culminating in the president posting an AI picture saying “f**k around, find out”.
The South American country buckled after it initially turned away two planes of its citizens who had entered the US illegally.
Trump threatened to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all Colombian imports and revoke visas for government officials.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has now offered to use his own plane to fly deported migrants from the US to Colombia.
All illegal entry will immediately be halted
Donald Trump
But Petro slammed Trump saying: “You don’t like our freedom, okay. I don’t shake hands with white slavers.
“Overthrow me, President, and the Americas and humanity will respond… You can try to carry out a coup with your economic strength and your arrogance.”
Immigration is high up the president’s list of priorities and he has already ordered the end of birthright citizenship.
But this effort has been labeled unconstitutional by a judge who has temporarily restrained enforcement.
Trump also declared a national emergency at the border with Mexico just after he was sworn in for the second time on Monday.
Just days into his new term, ICE arrested “538 illegal immigrant criminals” as he seeks to speed up deportations.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway.
“Promises made. Promises kept.”
Homan has previously told illegal immigrants “you better start packing now” and dubbed illegal immigration the biggest national security threat since 9/11.
He is prioritising deporting “public safety threats” and “national security threats” but said he would eventually look to target non-criminal illegal immigrants.
