Deportations Under Trump Administration Surpass 500,000
Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, over 500,000 undocumented individuals have been deported from the United States. It appears the administration is poised to significantly exceed the previous record for deportations.
A senior official from the Department of Homeland Security reported that more than 515,000 undocumented individuals have been deported as of now. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary, indicated to Fox News Digital that they aim to reach 600,000 deportations by the end of Trump’s first year.
In total, over 2 million undocumented migrants have left the country; 1.6 million of these left voluntarily, while more than 515,000 were formally deported. Additionally, 485,000 undocumented individuals have been arrested since Trump took office.
“This is just the beginning,” McLaughlin remarked, claiming that Trump along with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have reinvigorated an agency that had, for years, faced obstacles in fulfilling its mission.
She noted, “Illegal immigrants are hearing our message: leave now or face the consequences.” In fact, there has been a drastic decline in migration through Panama’s Darien Ditch, which has traditionally been a major route for those heading to the U.S.
“Despite numerous injunctions from activist judges, ICE, CBP, and the U.S. Coast Guard have achieved historic progress in fulfilling President Trump’s commitment to apprehend and deport unauthorized immigrants,” she added.
This past weekend, the DHS shared that it is focusing on removing the most dangerous criminal offenders among undocumented migrants, even amidst a government shutdown.
Authorities reported the arrest of a convicted child rapist, among others, over the weekend. For instance, Eric Xavier Romero, a Dominican national, was arrested in Boston for child rape. Another individual, Osvaldo Cortez-Chajon, faced charges of traveling to meet a child for illegal sexual activities in Alabama. A third, Graciano López-Flores, had been convicted of child molestation in North Carolina.
In North Carolina, ICE apprehended Shahed Hassan from Bangladesh, who had multiple convictions including simple assault and illegal possession of a firearm.
Further north, Van Pham, a native of Laos, was arrested in Virginia for kidnapping and robbery. In Massachusetts, Patricia Pimental Cordero, from the Dominican Republic, also faced arrest for two hit-and-run incidents.
Ramona Mercado-Vazquez, another undocumented individual from Dominica, was taken into custody in New Jersey for robbery and kidnapping. Additionally, in Wisconsin, ICE arrested Carlet Zagal Salazar, who had a drug trafficking conviction.
McLaughlin commented on the recent arrests, asserting, “Nothing, not even a government shutdown, will deter us from making America safe again.” She also directed criticism toward Democrats, stating, “While Democrats in Congress continue to shut down the government, our ICE officers persist in apprehending the most dangerous criminal aliens.”
