Trump’s Deportation Crackdown Begins: Hundreds of Migrants Arrested, Deported by Military Aircraft

Washington, United States – President Donald Trump’s administration has launched a sweeping deportation operation, marking a pivotal moment in his newly reinstated presidency. On Thursday, 538 migrants were arrested, and hundreds more were deported via military aircraft, according to the White House.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on social media that the operation is “the largest massive deportation operation in history.” The crackdown comes as Trump fulfills his campaign promise to overhaul immigration policies and strengthen enforcement at the southern border.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency confirmed the arrests and stated that 373 detainers were lodged for non-citizens already in custody for alleged criminal offenses.

On his first day back in office, Trump declared a “national emergency” at the southern border and ordered the deployment of additional troops, vowing to prioritize the deportation of what he described as “criminal aliens.”

Meanwhile, critics of the operation have raised concerns about its human rights implications. UN Rights Office Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani reminded nations that the right to seek asylum is a “universally recognized human right,” urging the United States to balance border security with international obligations.

Further controversy emerged in Newark, New Jersey, where Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka accused ICE agents of detaining undocumented residents and even U.S. citizens without proper warrants. Among those detained, he said, was a U.S. military veteran.

As President Trump heads to California and North Carolina for disaster-related visits, his administration’s aggressive stance on immigration enforcement has sparked widespread debate across the country. With an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants in the United States, the operation marks the beginning of what could be a tumultuous chapter in America’s immigration policy.