The Trump administration has deported more than 6,000 migrants in the first two weeks of Donald Trump’s second term.
It was reported that, within the first 15 days of Trump’s presidency, an average of 370 to 400 individuals were deported daily.
Federal data provided to the Daily Mail showed that on Monday alone, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 512 illegal immigrants and arrested 715 individuals with outstanding immigration violations. Of those arrested, 73% had known criminal convictions or pending charges, including offenses such as homicide, sexual crimes against minors, and drug trafficking.
The administration’s crackdown also targeted gang members, including six affiliates of the Tren de Aragua cartel and nine other migrant gang members. Reports indicate that the first deportation flights to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which began on Tuesday, included members of these gangs and other high-risk individuals linked to criminal organizations.
“Guantanamo Bay will hold the worst of the worst. That starts today,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X on Tuesday, sharing images of migrants being deported. The military base, which has not been used for migrant operations since 1994, has reportedly ramped up efforts to serve as a detention facility for deported illegal immigrants.
According to an official cited in the report, nearly 9,000 immigration violators have been arrested since Trump’s inauguration in January, with many having multiple convictions or charges.
A senior White House official emphasized Trump’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws, stating, “President Trump’s administration is following through on his promise to arrest and deport criminal illegal immigrants. This is just the beginning.”
Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump praised the crackdown, highlighting the severity of crimes committed by some of the deported individuals.
“The level of crime and brutality these people bring is staggering,” Trump stated. “If anyone thinks they will become model citizens, they’re wrong. It’s not going to happen.”
Trump also expressed support for relocating deported individuals to other countries, stating, “If I can get them out and send them somewhere that’s willing to take them for a fraction of what we pay to house them in our prisons, I think it would be great. I’d love to get them the hell out of our country.”
The administration has reportedly deported migrants to Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, and India and aims to relocate up to 30,000 individuals to Cuba as part of its ongoing deportation efforts.
Punch
