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Most of those arrested were already enrolled in ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program- designed to monitor undocumented immigrants considered low-risk.
US President Donald Trump (Getty)
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more than 2,200 individuals- the largest number of immigrant detentions recorded in a single day, NBC News reported.
The move is likely driven by mounting political pressure from senior Trump administration aides, including former White House adviser Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who have directed ICE to escalate enforcement and target up to 3,000 arrests daily, it was reported.
Arrested Immigrants Were Being Monitored
Most of those arrested were already enrolled in ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program- designed to monitor undocumented immigrants considered low-risk. Participants are typically tracked using GPS-enabled ankle bracelets, smartphone apps, or are required to attend regular check-ins with ICE officers, the report noted.
ICE Sent Mass Text Messages Before Arrest
ICE sent mass text messages to ATD enrollees asking them to report early to local field offices. Many who complied were arrested on arrival, including seven individuals at a single facility.
Owing to this shift in tactics, immigration attorneys and advocacy groups said this is a significant breach of trust and may violate due process, particularly as some of those arrested did not have final deportation orders.
Greg Chen, senior director at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said, “This is mass-scale enforcement that feels indiscriminate. People are now increasingly afraid and intimidated.”
The ATD program, established during the Joe Biden administration, has been widely praised for its 98.5% compliance rate with scheduled ICE appointments.
ICE has yet to issue a formal statement on the operation.
When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, “What is the purpose of journalism in society?”
When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, “What is the purpose of journalism in society?”
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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
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