WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — In a sharp escalation of immigration enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested nearly 1,200 people across the country on Sunday. The move is in line with President Donald Trump’s order to increase deportations during his second term.
The operations targeted major cities such as Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, and Los Angeles. According to ICE officials, the actions were targeted at undocumented immigrants with criminal records in order to improve public safety. The agency said that the arrests were part of a larger strategy to address illegal immigration and associated criminal activities.
In Chicago, ICE agents apprehended individuals with prior convictions for serious offenses such as homicide and armed robbery. The agency noted that the policy shift now permits officers to make collateral arrests during operations, a practice previously restricted under the Biden administration. This change has led to a notable increase in daily arrest numbers.
In addition, the administration has rescinded directives that limited the operations of ICE near sensitive locations such as schools and churches. Such actions have elicited strong reactions from the immigrant communities and advocacy groups as they may raise anxiety and disruptions in those locations.
In response, President Trump has set the ambitious target for ICE to make 1,500 arrests a day, compared to the figures that have prevailed in the past. The authorities have been granted permission to several federal agencies that will help achieve this goal in the crackdown as seen.
The critics argue that the increased efforts would result in arresting people who are not serious offenders and would cause further strains between immigrant communities and law enforcement. However, ICE claims that it is focusing more on people who are a threat to public safety and national security.
