ICE detained more than 10,000 immigrants in five days by order of the White House, reveals NYT
The increase in arrests would respond to an order to double daily arrests and accelerate the policy of mass deportations promoted by Donald Trump
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained more than 10,000 immigrants in the last five days, in an unprecedented increase in immigration operations driven by President Donald Trump's administration, according to information obtained by The New York Times from internal documents and interviews with federal officials.
The American newspaper reported that the increase in arrests is due to instructions issued by ICE management for agents to significantly increase their operations and concentrate more resources on locating and capturing people subject to deportation proceedings.
The offensive practically doubled the average number of arrests recorded at the beginning of the year, when the agency made around a thousand arrests a day. According to officials consulted by the newspaper, the new goal set by the White House is to reach 2,000 arrests per day.
The arrests have been made during scheduled appointments with immigration authorities, traffic inspections, operations on public roads and other immigration law enforcement actions, according to the newspaper report.
According to the information, senior ICE officials were informed that the White House was demanding an increase in the rate of arrests as part of the mass deportation strategy promised by Trump during his presidential campaign.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Lauren Bis reiterated the government's position by noting in a statement that “our message is clear: if you enter our country illegally, we will find you, arrest you and deport you,” a statement that summarizes the immigration policy of the current administration.
The intensification of operations occurs after the United States Supreme Court issued recent resolutions that expanded the president's powers to implement part of his immigration agenda, although they also limited his attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship for children of immigrants.
The increase in arrests reflects the Trump administration's determination to fulfill its promise to carry out the largest deportation campaign in recent US history.