ICE arrests more than 2.000 undocumented immigrants in a single day in a massive operation

The U.S. immigration agency carried out the largest number of arrests in a single day, under direct orders from Trump's entourage.

Raids on the rise and under political pressure

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained 2.200 people in a single day as part of a large-scale operation driven by the Donald Trump administration.

The figure was confirmed by an ICE spokesperson and comes amid tightening immigration policies.

Many of those detained were part of the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program, designed to release migrants who don't pose a risk under supervision. Many wore electronic shackles or were monitored through mobile apps. They were arrested nonetheless.

Three different sources confirmed that ICE summoned immigrants with urgent notifications and then proceeded to detain them upon their arrival. Several attorneys in different states reported that their clients, despite complying with all the program's requirements, were caught off guard by this new method.

Undercover operations and dramatic scenes

A journalist from Nbc newHe witnessed seven people being detained in New York after visiting an ICE office. Among them, a 30-year-old Colombian man was handcuffed in front of his daughter and his wife, who was crying desperately.

Attorney Margaret Cargioli of the Legal Center for Immigrant Advocates stated that the man always showed up punctually for his check-ins. "He was very cooperative with all the requirements we asked him," she said.

Outside the same office, Verónica Navarrete was waiting for an Ecuadorian friend who had applied for political asylum. “If you go in, you might be detained. If you don't go in, you'll miss your appointment, and that's automatic deportation. We have no way out,” she said.

ICE justifies arrests, but lawyers question legality

An ICE spokesperson justified the measure by stating that those arrested had final deportation orders issued by an immigration judge and had not complied with them. However, several attorneys insisted that many of their clients did not have such orders or were still in active proceedings.

The operation coincides with a warning from senior White House adviser Stephen Miller, who threatened dismissals if the 3.000 arrests per day target is not reached. This goal was revealed by sources present at a recent high-level meeting.

Objective: increase numbers at any cost

Former ICE officials have pointed out that reaching those numbers is unfeasible, and that the agency is resorting to soft targets, such as migrants in the ATD program. According to ICE data, at the end of October, more than 20.000 people were under electronic monitoring, and 98,5% of them kept their appointments.

“The mass arrest of people in supervision programs demonstrates that the priority is not security, but rather meeting numerical goals,” said Atenas Burrola Estrada of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights.

Greg Chen, director of the National Immigration Lawyers Association, warned about the growing climate of fear. “People are becoming more and more scared and intimidated,” he said.

Reinforcements and bureaucratic theater

According to NBC, ICE has added more than 5.000 officers from other agencies to intensify these actions. Not all detainees are deported immediately: if they have active appeals or requests, the process is suspended.

Jason Houser, former ICE chief of staff during the Biden administration, questioned the point of these arrests: “ICE arresting people already in supervision programs is bureaucratic theater. They're under control, many have legal status, and they pose no threat.”