Amid the Trump administration’s intensified nationwide anti-immigration drive, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained about 51,000 people last month — the highest number of detentions in a single month in the agency’s history.
According to data released by ICE and reports in U.S. media, the agency detained an average of about 1,645 people a day last month. The previous single-month record was in June, at about 43,000 — meaning new records have now been set two months running.
Since returning to power for a second term, President Donald Trump has further intensified the drive to enforce immigration law in the United States. His administration has directed various federal agencies to step up operations to identify and deport those living in the country without valid papers.
The drive has been intensified in various parts of the country. A special anti-immigration operation in Georgia detained 1,226 people. More than 30 people were also detained at airports last month, according to available information.
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that, along with arrests, deportations had also risen. In June, DHS said 356,389 people had been deported from the United States so far this fiscal year.
DHS has defended the drive as necessary, saying its purpose is to enforce immigration law and remove from the country people deemed a threat to public safety.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said: “80 percent of Americans support this practical effort to remove criminal illegal immigrants from our communities. By removing these criminals, we are once again making America safe.”
But there is also criticism of the government’s sweeping drive. Various reports say some of those detained in recent operations had no criminal record — some even held valid work permits or valid parole papers. This has raised concern among immigrant-rights activists over whether the drive is staying limited to criminals.
Even some supporters of the Trump administration’s immigration policy think the drive should be stepped up further. Mike Howell, president of the Trump-aligned Oversight Project, said the number of arrests was still lower than he had expected. He called for enforcing immigration law at workplaces too, as an important part of the strategy.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report