John Kelly, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, stated on Monday that U.S. immigration officers have arrested "more than 680" illegal immigrants in the past week, an action that has raised concerns among human rights groups. According to Reuters, Kelly announced that 75% of the arrested immigrants have criminal records, ranging from murder to driving under the influence. Another segment of those arrested includes individuals who have violated U.S. immigration laws. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a statement on Monday indicating that these arrests took place in the Midwest, Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and San Antonio. The Secretary of Homeland Security claims that these arrests were conducted "as part of normal procedures" and in accordance with U.S. immigration laws. However, human rights groups, referring to these arrests as a "raid," argue that the recent detentions are not in line with "normal procedures" and are "more severe and widespread" than the previous administration's approach to gathering illegal immigrants. Donald Trump, the new U.S. President, had promised during his campaign to deport between two to three million immigrants with criminal records. Prior to him, the Obama administration deported 400,000 illegal immigrants in 2012, which was an unprecedented figure. In a recent meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump stated that his administration has done "really an amazing job" in arresting illegal immigrants. The U.S. President added, "We are arresting people who are criminals. In some cases, very seasoned criminals with a long history of misconduct and trouble." Meanwhile, Shiu-Ming Cheir, the chief prosecutor of the National Immigration Law Center, told Reuters that "it now seems that anyone could be arrested. The level of fear and anxiety is much higher than I have ever seen." Several members of human rights groups have also told the British newspaper The Guardian that the presence of illegal immigrant deportation officers in neighborhoods is "more noticeable" than during the Obama era, and the White House has "given these officers more leeway."
Hundreds of Illegal Immigrants Arrested in the U.S. Over the Past Week
U.S. immigration officers arrested over 680 illegal immigrants in a week, raising concerns among human rights groups. Many of those arrested have criminal records, and the actions are seen as more aggressive than previous administrations. This reflects a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
U.S. immigration officers arrested over 680 illegal immigrants in a week, with 75% having criminal records. This action has raised concerns among human rights groups about the severity and scope of the enforcement under the Trump administration.
- More than 680 illegal immigrants were arrested.
- 75% of those arrested have criminal records.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Trump administration has prioritized stricter immigration enforcement, contrasting with the Obama administration's more targeted deportation approach.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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