More than 460 migrants arrested in the early hours of raids in the U.S.

More than 460 arrests of undocumented immigrants were made in the early hours following the start of raids across the United States announced by the administration of President Donald Trump.

The operation began on January 21, the day after the inauguration of the new president, and according to officials, "it targets foreign criminals and gang members."

The Fox News network, supportive of Trump and his policies, accompanied agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Boston and other cities.

It was then reported that "ICE has made over 460 arrests of illegal immigrants, including those with criminal records for offenses related to sexual assault, domestic violence, and drug and weapon-related crimes."

The arrests were carried out across the U.S., including Illinois, Utah, California, Minnesota, New York, Florida, and Maryland; they involved nationals from several countries, including Afghanistan, Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Senegal, and Venezuela, the outlet added.

According to reporter Bill Melugin, who accompanied the ICE team in Boston, the agents arrested several individuals there with serious criminal backgrounds, including members of the MS-13 gang, suspected of murder, rape, and firearms offenses.

Among those detained was a Haitian with 18 previous convictions, who challenged the cameras by saying he would not return to Haiti and that Presidents Trump and Biden "can go to hell forever."

Melugin also documented a "collateral" arrest when ICE detained an undocumented immigrant who was with a member of MS-13 that had been released the day before by a sanctuary jurisdiction, despite having an outstanding ICE detainer.

Tom Homan, former acting director of ICE and border czar, had pointed out that sanctuary cities would be more likely to see this type of arrest.

These actions are part of a broader effort to fulfill the Trump administration's promise to "deport migrants with criminal records and improve public safety."

The recent expansion of ICE operations is also accompanied by new highly controversial measures, including the rescission of the Biden administration's guidelines on enforcing immigration laws in areas considered "sensitive," such as schools and hospitals.

According to Benjamine Huffman, the new acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), these actions aim to grant greater powers to immigration officials to apprehend migrants with criminal records.

This offensive also includes the elimination of the humanitarian parole program implemented under the Biden administration, which allowed the temporary entry of migrants from countries such as Venezuela and Cuba.

The Trump administration has argued that these measures are necessary to protect American communities from public safety threats.

However, critics, including human rights groups, have denounced that the new policy will endanger thousands of vulnerable migrants who are fleeing extreme situations in their home countries.

These measures for mass deportation have also sparked controversy, as some consider them to be inhumane policies that do not take into account the circumstances of those seeking refuge in the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions about Migrant Raids in the U.S. under the Trump Administration