Trump Orders Largest Immigration Crackdown in US History

Federal agents arrested 956 people last Sunday in what became the largest single-day immigration sweep since Trump returned to power. Teams of about 10 federal agents raided major U.S. cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Phoenix. The four-day operation netted 2,681 arrests total. Agents detained 286 people on Saturday, 593 on Friday, and 538 on Thursday.

Law enforcement focused on suspects with serious criminal records. Chicago authorities caught two individuals previously convicted of murder and aggravated sexual battery. The operation reached different parts of the country, as North Texas officials reported 84 arrests. Miami authorities detained suspects charged with crimes from aggravated assault to drug possession. This massive crackdown shows a fundamental change in how immigration policies work now. Multiple federal agencies worked together in an unprecedented way that went beyond Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Unprecedented Scale of Trump Administration Immigration Blitz

ICE reported 1,179 arrests in a single day, exceeding original estimates of 956 arrests. This number shows a most important increase from the agency’s average of 311 daily arrests in the previous fiscal year. The operation led to 613 criminal arrests, while 566 people had no criminal record except unauthorized entry.

Federal agencies showed exceptional coordination during this enforcement initiative. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove led joint operations with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, and Customs and Border Protection. The Department of Homeland Security expanded its capabilities by giving immigration powers to Justice Department’s law enforcement agencies.

Teams of about ten federal agents carried out raids in major metropolitan areas:

• Chicago: Six federal agencies launched joint operations targeting potentially dangerous individuals
• Denver: DEA and ICE detained 41 individuals in a coordinated raid
• Los Angeles: Homeland Security Investigations conducted targeted enforcement actions
• Miami: Operations resulted in arrests of individuals with pending criminal charges

ICE’s targeted operations in North Texas led to 84 arrests throughout Dallas, Irving, Arlington, Fort Worth, and Collin County. The Department of Homeland Security removed previous restrictions on enforcement locations, so operations could now take place in previously protected areas like schools, hospitals, and places of worship.

City-by-City Operation Breakdown

Federal agents spread out through major U.S. cities, focusing their operations in sanctuary areas. Teams of federal agents in Chicago ran ten coordinated raids instead of using only ICE personnel. The Los Angeles Homeland Security Investigations office worked with DEA on targeted enforcement actions, which led to several arrests.

Major urban centers targeted

The operations took place at the same time in several major cities. Enforcement actions in North Texas resulted in 84 apprehensions throughout Dallas, Irving, Arlington, Fort Worth, and Collin County. Miami’s authorities took people into custody who faced charges from aggravated assault to drug possession. Denver’s operation captured 41 individuals linked to Venezuelan gang activities.

Local law enforcement cooperation levels

Federal authorities wanted local support, but cooperation differed substantially between jurisdictions. Beloit’s Police Department said it would help ICE only when cases involved terrorism, gang activity, or violent felonies. In spite of that, seven Wisconsin sheriff’s offices managed to keep active contracts with ICE through the 287(g) program. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated it would not question or hold people based on immigration status.

Sanctuary city responses

Sanctuary cities strongly opposed the enforcement actions. San Jose’s Mayor Matt Mahan stated the police department would not take part in federal operations. Chicago’s City Council kept its sanctuary protections, which banned cooperation between local police and immigration agents. San Juan’s mayor promised support services to affected families, including citizenship classes and legal help. The Trump administration responded by threatening to look into jurisdictions that blocked federal immigration enforcement.

Enforcement Strategy and Priorities

At first, ICE focused on people with criminal convictions, but data showed that only 613 of the 1,179 arrests – about 52% – were criminal arrests. The Department of Homeland Security boosted its enforcement reach by removing restrictions on sensitive locations. This change allowed operations in schools, hospitals, and places of worship.

Focus on criminal vs non-criminal arrests

The Criminal Alien Program (CAP) became the main channel to enforce immigration laws inside the country. State or local law enforcement generated 91.8% of encounters. Sam Olson, ICE’s enforcement director in Chicago, made it clear that agents would arrest anyone staying illegally, whatever their criminal history.

New detention powers implementation

The Department of Homeland Security made major changes to detention authorities:

• Nationwide authority to speed up removals
• No more 72-hour limits on residential programs
• Removed need for judicial oversight in first 28 days of detention
• Case-by-case decisions now determine detention

Inter-agency tactical coordination

The Justice Department ordered multiple agencies to share their resources and information. They asked the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, and Bureau of Prisons to check their files for details about non-citizens. ICE’s Criminal Alien Program worked with over 4,000 federal, state, and local facilities to collect information about foreign nationals in custody. The program aimed to identify, arrest, and remove incarcerated people through controlled environments to keep officers and communities safer.

Impact on Local Communities

Immigration raids have created deep disruptions in communities nationwide, putting 908,891 households with U.S.-citizen children at risk of falling into poverty because of deportations.

Family separations and social consequences

Children who suddenly lose parents to deportation face serious psychological challenges. They show signs of anxiety, anger, aggression, withdrawal, eating problems, and depression. 10% of U.S. families with children have at least one non-citizen family member, which means these problems are systemic. Many parents skip essential medical appointments, and pregnant mothers avoid prenatal care because they fear enforcement.

Economic disruption in affected areas

Deportations have taken a heavy financial toll on communities. Families lose 40-90% of their income within six months after a parent’s deportation. The workforce disruption hits several major industries hard:

• One in eight workers could be lost from construction
• The hospitality sector might lose one in fourteen workers
• Farms expect major worker shortages

Community response and support networks

Support networks have become vital systems as enforcement actions increase. The ICIRR Family Support Network helps immigrant communities by providing:

• Legal help and policy updates
• Emergency money assistance
• Food and housing support
• Help with healthcare access

Local organizations have built reliable support systems. The Inland Empire Rapid Response Network got 140 calls about possible enforcement operations. The Valley Watch Network has 90 trained responders who track enforcement activities in farming communities. These networks want to share accurate information and stop false rumors that could cause panic in communities.

The Trump administration launched a massive immigration enforcement operation that radically altered federal policy implementation. A record 956 individuals were arrested in a single day. The administration also expanded enforcement powers to usher in aggressive immigration control measures. These changes disrupted communities in major U.S. cities. Many families faced separation trauma while local economies struggled with workforce shortages.

Multiple federal agencies worked together to show their commitment to rigorous immigration law enforcement. The administration removed previous restrictions on enforcement locations and deployed joint agency teams. This reflected a complete change in strategy. Sanctuary cities responded by strengthening their protective measures. Support networks quickly mobilized resources to help affected communities.

The operation’s effects went way beyond the reach and influence of immediate arrests. It reshaped local economies and social structures. This enforcement initiative became a defining moment in U.S. immigration policy. It transformed relationships between federal authorities, local jurisdictions, and immigrant communities nationwide.