Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing to deploy thousands of agents to sanctuary cities as part of a national crackdown on illegal immigration authorized by the Trump Administration.
Nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration beginning: Trump has “taken the handcuffs off of law enforcement”
The Washington Examiner disclosed on Tuesday that the Trump administration has authorized the ICE to begin a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration, including deploying large numbers of federal agents to so-called “sanctuary cities”. The agency is reportedly planning to “flood sanctuary cities with agents” and has been authorized by the Trump Administration to hire an additional 10,000 to help with its enforcement efforts.
In a 45-minute interview with Thomas Homan, Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homan reportedly told the Washington Examiner that the Trump Administration has “taken the handcuffs off of law enforcement” and that the change under Trump has been both dramatic and well-received. Homan was quoted as saying, “You’d think everybody would be celebrating these policies.”
“A flood” of agents to be deployed to sanctuary cities
While not providing specifics of the agency’s crackdown plan, Homan reportedly referred to so-called ‘sanctuary cities” such as Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco. “In the America I grew up in,” Homan was quoted as saying, “cities didn’t shield people who violated the law.”
“In the America I grew up in, cities didn’t shield people who violated the law.” – Thomas Homan, Acting Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
While the Trump administration has been prioritizing criminals, fugitives, threats to national security and those who illegally re-enter the U.S., Homan recently testified to congress that, under Trump, no illegal immigrant is safe from deportation.
“What I want to get to”, he testified, “is a clear understanding from everybody, from the congressmen, to the politicians, to law enforcement, to those who enter the country illegally, that ICE is open for business. We’re going to enforce the laws on the books without apology, we’ll continue to prioritize what we do. But it’s not OK to violate the laws of this country anymore. You’re going to be held accountable.”
“ICE is open for business”, Holam is reported to have said, “We’re going to enforce the laws on the books without apology… its not OK to violate the laws of this country anymore. You’re going to be held accountable.” – Thomas Homan, Acting Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Dramatic decline in illegal immigration under President Trump
President Donald Trump campaigned under a promise to crackdown on illegal immigration. Data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection suggests his efforts have been successful. Under former President Obama, from February through May in 2016, 188,000 people were caught attempting to illegally enter the United States from Mexico. Under President Trump, during the same period in 2017, only 76,000 were captured or turned back at the border, a staggering 59 percent decrease in the number of people attempting to illegally enter the U.S.
Ronald Vitiello, the chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee in May that the decline was the result of President Trump’s January 2017 executive orders that outlined the shift in U.S. policy regarding illegal immigration, and the corresponding increase in resources under his administration dedicated to border control.
“As a result of the executive orders issued by the president,” Vitiello said, “and the implementing policies issued by the secretary, as well as earlier policy changes and the significant investments we have made in border-enforcement personnel, technology, and infrastructure, we are seeing a historic shift in illegal crossings along the southwest border.”
