Under Trump’s first week back in office, ICE carries out a major immigration operation, arresting over 3,500 people, marking a significant shift in US immigration policy
In the first week of President Trump’s return to office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ramped up operations, resulting in over 3,500 arrests. The surge in arrests comes as ICE agents have conducted large-scale immigration enforcement operations across the U.S. In a single day, ICE recorded 1,179 arrests—the highest daily figure since Trump resumed office last Thursday.
Since then, figures posted on ICE’s social media account show 538 arrests on Thursday, 593 on Friday, 286 on Saturday, 956 on Sunday, and 1,179 on Monday. This marks a drastic increase in arrests, far surpassing the average of 310 per day during the Biden administration’s fiscal year, which ended in September.
Trump’s return has seen an escalation in anti-immigration measures, including a national emergency declaration on the U.S.-Mexico border, alongside the signing of executive orders tightening limits on immigration and asylum. Republican lawmakers have backed the president’s push, with the House passing the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants arrested for certain crimes.
Additionally, Trump’s administration is focusing on investigating sanctuary cities. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has announced that cities like Boston, Denver, Chicago, and New York City will be scrutinized for their role in shielding undocumented immigrants from federal enforcement.
