The United States conducted a nationwide crackdown on Sunday, resulting in 956 arrests, the highest number since Donald Trump resumed the presidency, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The operation marks a return to the strict immigration policies that characterized Trump’s first term.
The raids, involving multiple federal agencies with expanded detention powers, targeted major cities such as Chicago, Newark, and Miami. Tom Homan, Trump’s newly appointed border czar, was present in Chicago to oversee the enforcement efforts. These actions align with Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportations, a policy that has drawn sharp criticism from immigration advocates and Democratic leaders.
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson confirmed ICE activity but emphasized that local police were not involved, urging residents to know their legal rights. Meanwhile, in Miami, ICE and other federal agencies detained numerous individuals. A man, speaking anonymously to CBS News, revealed that his wife, who was in the process of gaining citizenship, was among those taken during the raids. “They just came and snatched her,” he lamented, calling the situation “despicable.”
In Newark, reports emerged of undocumented residents, including a military veteran, being detained without warrants during a raid on a local business. Mayor Ras Baraka condemned the actions, stating, “Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized.”
Sunday’s arrests follow a series of aggressive enforcement actions over the preceding days, with 286 arrests on Saturday, 593 on Friday, and 538 on Thursday. ICE officials, including Homan, defended the operations, citing public safety and national security as priorities. Homan has maintained that undocumented individuals caught in raids targeting criminals will also face deportation.
The aggressive approach underscores a stark policy shift from Joe Biden’s administration, which averaged 311 daily deportations during his presidency, primarily targeting individuals with criminal records. Over his four years in office, Biden’s administration deported 1.5 million people, a figure comparable to Trump’s first term, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
Immigration advocates warn that the current enforcement strategy risks detaining citizens and lawful residents during raids. Despite the backlash, Homan indicated on Sunday that deportation numbers are expected to “steadily increase.”
As tensions rise, the operation has reignited the debate over immigration policy, with Democrats and advocacy groups calling for a more humane approach, while the Trump administration doubles down on its stringent measures.
