The Trump administration has launched what it describes as the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, arresting hundreds of undocumented immigrants with criminal records and initiating deportation flights using military aircraft. The crackdown comes just days into President Donald Trump's second term, fulfilling a campaign promise to overhaul the country's immigration system.
On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had arrested 538 individuals, including a suspected terrorist and several members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Leavitt called the effort "the largest massive deportation operation in history," adding, "President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: if you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences."
Among those arrested were individuals with criminal histories that include sexual assault, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses, according to ICE. The arrests occurred during a 33-hour period between January 21 and January 22, with those detained originating from multiple countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Angola, among others.
Deportation flights have already begun, with images released by the White House showing detainees boarding military aircraft. One plane, which departed from Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, transported 80 individuals to Guatemala. ICE has not disclosed the total number of deportation flights completed or the nationalities of all those being repatriated.
The operation has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders and immigration advocates. In Newark, New Jersey, ICE agents conducted a raid on a fish market, detaining several workers, including at least one U.S. military veteran, according to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Baraka condemned the operation as an "egregious act" and accused agents of conducting the raid without a warrant, calling it a violation of the Fourth Amendment.
One of those detained is a U.S. military veteran who "suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned," Baraka said in a statement. "This egregious act is in plain violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees 'the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.'"
Baraka pledged to defend the civil rights of Newark's residents. "Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized. We are ready and willing to defend and protect civil and human rights," he said.
Meanwhile, additional U.S. troops have been deployed to assist with border security operations. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that military personnel were seen installing wire near the Ysleta Port of Entry in El Paso.
Trump's latest immigration measures mark a continuation of his administration's hardline policies. During his inaugural address earlier this week, the president declared a "national emergency" to prioritize domestic fossil fuel production and combat illegal immigration. "We will drill, baby, drill, and we will secure our borders. America will be strong and sovereign again," Trump said.
The crackdown has reignited debates over the balance between national security and civil liberties. Advocates argue that the operation reflects an overreach of federal authority, while Trump supporters view it as a necessary step to restore law and order.
The estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States include many who have lived in the country for decades, raising questions about the long-term consequences of such sweeping enforcement actions. Critics worry that indiscriminate raids risk targeting individuals with deep community ties, including veterans and families.
