In a stunning crackdown, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has arrested a jaw-dropping 11,000 illegal migrants in just the first 18 days of the Trump administration. This staggering number already surpasses a third of the arrests made under former President Joe Biden in the entire previous year.
Cartel hitman among the arrests
The massive arrests, part of President Trump’s tough stance on illegal immigration, have rocked the country. One of the high-profile arrests included Fernando Vasquez-Mendoza, a Mexican cartel hitman previously deported, who was captured by ICE agents in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Sources claim he worked as a hired killer for the notorious Gulf Cartel. It’s unclear when Vasquez-Mendoza reentered the US after his deportation, but his capture highlights the severity of this immigration crisis.
Dangerous gang members and child sex offenders detained
The Trump administration’s aggressive policy doesn’t stop there. ICE agents have also taken down members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, also known as TdA. A key arrest was Cristian Jose Concepcion-Manrique, who crossed into El Paso last December. With a history of assault, Concepcion-Manrique is a prime example of the dangerous criminals sneaking into the US.
ICE scrambles for space to detain migrants
While these arrests make up a small fraction of the 33,000 ICE arrests made last year, the pace of this new wave is alarming. The surge has put immense pressure on ICE to find enough space for detained illegal migrants. To handle the influx, ICE has been forced to turn to the Bureau of Prisons for help. The agency plans to open four detention centers, with an expanded capacity for holding detainees. This move comes after a scramble for additional bed space, with ICE already spending millions of dollars to hold more people than the current budget can cover.
Expanding detention space and challenges faced
ICE has always struggled with space, but the Trump administration has pushed for more aggressive action. The plan to open new detention facilities has been in the works since November, but there are challenges involved. ICE had limited capacity to act under the previous administration, and now it’s playing catch-up to meet the growing demands of Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Guantanamo Bay to hold dangerous migrants
This surge has also led the Trump administration to get creative with its strategies. The Pentagon has allowed ICE to fly the most dangerous illegal migrants to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Traditionally used to house foreign terrorists, Guantanamo now has space to hold illegal immigrants trying to sneak through the Gulf of Mexico. President Trump signed an order to expand the base’s capacity, aiming for 30,000 detainees.
Adding to the support, local and state law enforcement agencies are stepping in, with many partnering with ICE through the 287g program. This initiative allows local authorities to detain illegal immigrants on behalf of ICE, freeing up space in federal facilities. The collaboration between ICE and local forces has been a game changer in dealing with the growing crisis.
Family detention reinstated
The Trump administration isn’t stopping at detaining criminals. They are also working to bring back family detention, which had been halted under Biden. A previously closed facility is being reopened, with plans to hold families in a more secure environment while their cases are processed.
As ICE braces for more arrests, the focus is clear: track down and remove dangerous illegal migrants. The relentless pace of the arrests is setting the tone for the Trump administration’s tough approach to immigration. In this unprecedented time, ICE is pushing its resources to the limit, and the US government is making bold moves to contain the rising tide of illegal immigration. With plans to expand detention facilities and enhance partnerships with local authorities, it seems the crackdown is just getting started.
