Nationwide ICE operations focus on public safety threats
Authorities have undertaken nationwide actions today against illegal immigrants who pose a public threat, Tom Homan, the head of the White House Immigration and Customs Service, announced on Tuesday. The official added that although the priority is on individuals convicted of crimes, other illegal immigrants will also be apprehended.
Homan, who was dubbed the "border czar" by Trump in a conversation with CNN, referred to the planned actions against illegal immigrants, stressing that he would rather use the term "targeted operations" instead of "raids." He explained that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have resumed their duties, which had been hindered for the past four years.
The official responsible for coordinating the deportations announced by Donald Trump stated that ICE is actively enforcing the law in the field, primarily focusing on addressing public safety threats.
Homan noted that the operations primarily focus on individuals convicted of crimes, but other illegal immigrants nearby may also be detained. He pointed out that this is due to city regulations that limit ICE's access to local jails.
He explained that the law does not require a conviction for a serious crime to warrant deportation, which will increase collateral arrests.
According to Fox News, on the first day of the new administration's actions, regulations prohibiting arrests in "sensitive locations," such as schools or churches, were revoked.
Homan did not disclose details of Monday's ICE operations, only stating that they are happening across the entire country. Initially, the actions were expected to start in Chicago, but according to CNN, these plans changed after information leaked to the media.
The official noted that despite a record number of deportations last year—over 220,000—the previous administration did not fully perform its duties, with most of these actions conducted by the border patrol involving individuals detained directly after crossing the border.
Homan also emphasized that Donald Trump's executive orders, such as the suspension of accepting new refugees, will not be altered. According to CNN, these decisions will impact, among others, former collaborators of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and their families, as well as the families of American soldiers from that country.
On Monday, Trump also signed other orders related to immigration, including declaring a state of emergency at the Mexican border and recognizing illegal immigration as an "invasion" requiring the involvement of additional armed forces. There was also a complete halt to the right to apply for asylum and automatic return of migrants crossing the border outside official border crossings.
