U.S. authorities have arrested 538 undocumented migrants and deported hundreds more as part of a large-scale operation launched during President Donald Trump’s second term in office. The announcement was made by Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, late Thursday.
“The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals,” Leavitt shared in a post on social platform X, adding that “hundreds” of deportees were transported using military aircraft. She further described the initiative as the “largest massive deportation operation in history,” adding, “Promises made. Promises kept.”
President Trump’s second term has begun with a strong focus on immigration policies. During his campaign, Trump pledged to take aggressive measures to address illegal immigration, and he has since followed through with a series of executive orders. These include declaring a “national emergency” at the southern border and deploying additional military troops to the region. Trump has also vowed to remove what he described as “criminal aliens” from the United States.
In addition to federal actions, local authorities are also reporting activity related to the crackdown. Newark city mayor Ras J. Baraka issued a statement on Thursday criticizing a recent raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Baraka noted that the agents “raided a local establishment… detaining undocumented residents as well as citizens, without producing a warrant.” This has raised concerns among community leaders about the scope of the enforcement measures.
Earlier this week, the Republican-majority Congress approved legislation aimed at increasing pretrial detention for foreign suspects accused of criminal activity. This move is seen as part of the broader strategy to tighten immigration laws and deter unauthorized entry into the U.S.
