US authorities, under President Donald Trump’s second administration, arrested 538 migrants and deported hundreds more in a large-scale operation, according to the president’s press secretary.
Karoline Leavitt shared the news on social media platform X, describing the operation as “the largest mass deportation in history” and confirmed that many of the deportations were carried out via military aircraft. She emphasized that the operation aligned with Trump’s campaign promise to tackle illegal immigration.
The raid took place just days into Trump’s second term, which began with a series of executive actions designed to tighten US immigration policy. Trump’s administration is targeting an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants, beginning with high-profile operations.
In Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras J. Baraka condemned a raid conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Baraka claimed that agents detained both undocumented individuals and US citizens without proper warrants, and one detainee was a US military veteran. The mayor called the raid a violation of constitutional rights. ICE confirmed the arrests, stating that 538 individuals were detained and 373 detainers were lodged.
New Jersey’s Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim expressed concern over the raid, stating that such actions instill fear in local communities and underscoring the need for systemic immigration reform instead of fear-based tactics.
Trump has vowed to continue his crackdown on illegal immigration, including deporting “criminal aliens” and reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires individuals seeking asylum to stay in Mexico while their US applications are processed. The administration has also halted asylum programs for people fleeing authoritarian regimes in Central and South America.
Critics of Trump’s rhetoric, such as comparisons to dark historical events, argue that his approach exacerbates fear and division, particularly in the context of US immigration.
