ICE to step up arrests

WASHINGTON, May 29 (Reuters) – The Trump administration is removing two senior immigration enforcement officials as the White House is demanding a sharp increase in arrests of migrants in the U.S. illegally, three people familiar with the move. Deportations so far have lagged numbers under Trump’s Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, whose administration faced higher levels of illegal immigration and quickly deported many recent border crossers. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told Fox News’ “Hannity” on Wednesday that the White House was setting a goal for ICE to arrest at least 3,000 migrants per day, far above an earlier 1,000 per day arrest quota. Miller, the architect of Trump’s immigration agenda, shouted at ICE officials over insufficient arrests in a meeting last week, one of the sources and two other people familiar with the matter said.  Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also threatened to fire the bottom 10% of regional ICE officials based on their arrest tallies, the people said.

Nantucket: There was an undercurrent of fear and paranoia in Nantucket this week. The Nantucket Food Pantry posted a message in English, Spanish, and Portuguese to social media saying that if people are not comfortable going to the pantry themselves, “send a friend or trusted neighbor — we’ll welcome them with open arms.” (Boston Globe)

Vermont: ICE officials detained 10 people working at a private construction site in the town of Newport VT on Thursday, marking the second large-scale immigration enforcement incident in Vermont in just two months. Last month, eight migrant workers were detained at a dairy farm in Berkshire after Customs and Border Protection agents responded to a call alleging that suspicious looking men had crossed onto the farm property. Four of those arrested have already been deported to Mexico, while others remain in ICE custody. (VTDigger)

Tallahassee: More than 100 undocumented immigrants were arrested Thursday at Tallahassee construction sites. State and federal law enforcement officers handcuffed construction workers and loaded them into vans before taking them away from the site near the university. “Over 100 illegal aliens at a Florida job site—some previously deported, some with rap sheets. All of them thought no one would notice,” the Florida Department of Law Enforcement posted on X. “Florida noticed.” (NBC).

 

 

This is list of programs that allow a person to enter or to be allowed to stay, and does not include the 11- 12 million unauthorized persons in the U.S. Except for DACA most of these persons entered the U.S. during the Biden administration. They number in total about six million persons.

Asylum applicants: 2.6 million  

During FY 2024, there were 1.8 million new asylum applications and 704,000 cases were completed, resulting in an increase in pending applications of about 1.1 million. In Sept, 2020, five months before the start of the Biden administration, 1.5 million cases were pending, and at the end of FY 2024 3.9 million, for an increase of 2.4 million cases.

Temporary Protected Status: 1.1 million

As of May 2025, the largest countries of origin are Venezuela, 340,000; Haiti, 200,000; El Salvador,180,000; Honduras, 54,000; and Ukraine, 50,000.  On February 1, DHS Secretary Noem announced the termination of Venezuela’s TPS with the termination set to take effect on April 7, 2025.On May 19 the U.S. Supreme Court authorized the Trump administration to proceed with terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelan nationals. This decision lifted a prior injunction by a federal judge in California, which had blocked the administration’s attempt to end TPS protections that were extended under the Biden administration.

DACA: 540,000

Must have arrived in the U.S. before turning 16 years old and before June 15, 2007.  Must have been born after June 15, 1981. As of 2021, new applications are no longer being approved due to a federal court injunction, though renewals are still being processed. Repeated efforts to normalize their status as failed, as well as efforts to kill the program.

CBP One: 940,000

In October 2020 the CBP One mobile application was first launched by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, initially intended for commercial users, customs brokers, and travelers to submit forms, schedule inspections, and manage other logistics. In January 2023, the Biden administration repurposed CBP One as a tool for asylum seekers and migrants to schedule appointments at U.S. ports of entry—especially along the southern border—as part of a broader strategy to discourage irregular crossings and promote lawful pathways. The legal term for protection is humanitarian parole.  On January 20, 2025, the Trump administration terminated the use of CBP One for scheduling migrant appointments. In March 2025, the app was rebranded as CBP Home, repurposed to assist individuals in self-deportation processes.

CHNV  530,000

The Biden administration started The CHNV program in January 2023 to provide a legal pathway for nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the United States. Up to 30,000 individuals per month could be granted two-year humanitarian parole,

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14165, directing the termination of all categorical parole programs, including CHNV. This program was to espire on April 24. On April 14, 2025, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction. The court ruled that DHS must conduct individual assessments before revoking parole status, rather than implementing a blanket termination.

Ukrainian 240,000

The Biden administration launched the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program in April 2022. Eligible Ukrainians could be granted a two-year period of humanitarian parole. They needed a U.S.-based sponsor who agreed to provide financial support during their stay.  As of January 28, 2025, the U4U program has been paused indefinitely following Executive Order 14165, titled “Securing Our Borders,” signed by President Trump.  In response to the program’s suspension, some Ukrainians in the U.S. may seek other forms of protection, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or asylum. TPS for Ukraine has been extended through October 19, 2026,

Afghan 77,000

The Biden administration start Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) in August 2021 to facilitate the resettlement of Afghans evacuated during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. This provided humanitarian parole to over 73,000 Afghans, allowing them in for two years. Many parolees were eligible for refugee benefits and could apply for asylum, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), or other immigration statuses. To address the temporary nature of these protections, the Afghan Adjustment Act was introduced in Congress in July 2023. This bipartisan bill aimed to grant lawful permanent resident status to eligible Afghan nationals who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. The bill has not been enacted. In January 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order suspending the Afghan resettlement program, halting new admissions and leaving thousands of Afghans in limbo. Additionally, the administration announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, effective July 14, 2025. This decision affects approximately 11,700 Afghan nationals currently holding TPS.

Go here.

 

 

 

The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) issued on May 15 a report which evaluated the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement claims during its first 100 days in office and compared them with the actual enforcement levels under Biden during Fiscal Year 2024. The TRAC report focused on two measurements: the volume of arrests and the volume of removals (i.e. deportations).

On April 28, 2025, the Trump administration claimed it had arrested over 151,000 and deported over 135,000 immigrants in its first 100 days—alleging this had already surpassed the entire total for FY 2024. In reality, Trump’s actual removals numbered only 72,179 Actual arrests totaled 76,212, just half of the stated 151,000.

Under Biden in FY 2024 removals totaled 271,484 and arrests totaled 277,913. Under Biden, there were an average of 759 arrests and 742 removals per day; under Trump, 778 arrests and 737 removals per day.

DHS and ICE have withheld timely data and suspended regular statistical reports. TRAC’s data came from the very large TRAC data repository used to publish ICE statistics semi-monthly.

Who is Being Arrested?

TRAC’s May 15 report did not provide any numerical breakdown of what types of people were arrested or deported. An April 14 TRAC report suggests relatively very few are convicted criminals.  Among those “detained” by state and local law enforcement agencies only 29% had a criminal record. My guess is that as ICE increases the scope of its activity, a very small percentage will have criminal records. This creates a challenge for ICE to continue to portray its work as focusing on criminals.

How TRAC gets data

The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse systematically utilizes the Freedom of Information Act to obtain data from federal agencies, including those involved in immigration enforcement, such as ICE and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).

The NY Times poll of 913 registered voters conducted April 21- 24 reports that 37% strongly support “deporting immigrants living in the United States illegally back to their home countries.” 17% somewhat support,16% somewhat oppose, and 26% strongly oppose. The poll looks at how informed people are about deportation activity (for instance if they are aware of the Abrego Garcia case). With the help of ChatGPT, I integrated the poll results to come up with a profile and narrative of how the shift away from support of deportation will most likely occur.

The most likely shiftable person is 45–64, white, high school or some college, Midwest or South, they vote, but don’t closely follow the news and may consume local or cable news sporadically. They might be a 53-year-old white man in suburban Iowa, a moderate Republican voter who supported Trump in the past.

Scenario: “A Shift in the Heartland”

Setting: Davenport, Iowa — May 2025

Jim McAllister is 54 years old, a third-generation Iowan. He’s worked maintenance at the same agricultural supply warehouse for 28 years. He lives with his wife, Cheryl, and their teenage daughter, Claire, in a modest ranch house on the west side of town. Politically, Jim votes Republican. He’s not an ideologue, just a man who believes in rules, fairness, and hard work. He doesn’t follow the news closely — usually just catches the local evening TV broadcast and checks Fox News headlines during lunch.

One Monday evening, he’s watching KWQC News 6 at Ten. The lead story hits close to home.

“BREAKING: Local Mother Detained by ICE While Dropping Her Kids at School.”

The anchor reports that María Alvarez, a 38-year-old Guatemalan woman who’s lived in Davenport for 16 years, was detained by immigration officers just after 8 a.m. that morning. María has two children, both U.S. citizens — one in third grade, the other in seventh. She was leaving the school parking lot when plainclothes ICE agents approached, confirmed her identity, and took her into custody.

Her only record, the anchor notes, is a misdemeanor from 2012 — an expired vehicle registration fine. María worked full-time at a nursing home, paid taxes through an ITIN, and was known in her church community.

Jim watches the footage: María’s children being escorted by school staff, her pastor giving an emotional statement, her neighbors expressing disbelief.

He frowns. “Didn’t even get to say goodbye to her kids,” he mutters.

The next day, during his break, Jim opens a Fox News article on his phone:

“ICE Arrests 142 in Mississippi Poultry Plant Raid”

The piece details a major worksite raid in Laurel, Mississippi, where over 140 people were taken into custody at two chicken-processing facilities. The company, the article says, had a long history of hiring undocumented workers. The news outlet emphasizes law enforcement’s perspective — that this is about restoring “law and order.”

But one paragraph catches Jim’s attention. It mentions that many of those arrested had been living in the U.S. for over a decade. Some had no criminal history. Many left children at school or daycare, only for those kids to return home to empty houses.

He thinks again about María. About her kids. About the quiet Guatemalan man, Rafael, who has worked nights at his warehouse for seven years — always on time, never a problem. About the tacos Rafael brought in last Christmas, how his daughter made them, how proud he was.

Jim doesn’t say much that week. But on Sunday, after church, he tells Cheryl, “You know, I used to think we just needed to send ’em all back. But this — this ain’t right. We’re not just deporting people. We’re tearing up families.”

And the next time immigration comes up at work, and someone cracks a joke, Jim says quietly, “You should’ve seen the look on that little girl’s face on the news. Didn’t look like law and order to me. Looked like we forgot to be decent.”

Something’s shifted. Not in what Jim believes about rules — but in how he now thinks they ought to be applied.

 

As these incidents increase, especially in Red states, will public opinion turn more against mass deportation?  Or will the Administration forge ahead?  As these visible events proliferate, it will be more difficult for ICE to assert that it is pursuing criminals. From arresting rapists to preying on the innocent.

Iowa Hispanic festival cancelled

The VIVA Ottumwa Latino Festival, scheduled for June 19, was called off in early May by the League of United Latin American Citizens’ local chapter. Increased ICE enforcement led to the cancellation. “LULAC Ottumwa has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s VIVA Ottumwa Latino Festival. The organization cited concerns for the community’s safety and well-being during a time of ongoing uncertainty that continues to affect both documented and undocumented residents alike.”  It would have been the 10^th year of the festival in Ottumwa, where 4,100 Hispanics live.  The Hispanic population has tripled in the past 14 years. Food and beverage plants provide jobs. (Go here and here.)

Chaotic scene at arrest in Worchester MA

“ICE agents detain one, two others arrested during chaotic scene in Worcester” was the Boston Globe headline on May 8. Rosane Ferreira de Oliveira, a Brazilian national was arrested.  “Chaos erupted on a Worcester street Thursday when federal immigration agents apprehended and transferred a woman into an unmarked car…..Neighbors, activists, and local officials, including City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, gathered at the scene, forming a human barrier around the ICE vehicle and demanding to see a warrant. The situation escalated when de Oliveira’s teenage daughter and Ashley Spring, a Worcester School Committee candidate, attempted to intervene. Both were arrested; the daughter faced charges including child endangerment, while Spring was charged with assaulting officers.”

A city council meeting on May 13 was held online instead of in City Hall due to the threat of disruptions.

Nashville restaurants closed because workers don’t show up.

“Trump Pal Kid Rock Forced to Close Nashville Restaurant as Undocumented Staff Bolt Over ICE Raids; Some managers are coordinating transportation for undocumented employees afraid to commute” was the headline in the Latin Times on May 16.

“Ahead of rumored ICE raids, managers at all three of [Steve Smith’s [Kid Rock’s business partner] establishments reportedly instructed employees without legal status to vacate the premises during the Saturday night rush. Many of those workers did not return for the rest of the weekend, fearing detention, which further strained an already short-staffed operation…..Around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, our manager came back and told anyone without legal status to go home. Events at the Ryman, Ascend, the Savannah Bananas’ baseball game all let out, and it was crazy busy. But there was no one in the kitchen to cook the food.”

Large worksite ICE raids in May to date (May 17)

Laredo, Texas – May 16 at two construction sites, arresting 31 migrants.

Washington, D.C. – May 6–9 Arrest of 189 individuals and the issuance of notices of inspection to 187 local businesses.

Central Florida – May 13 Some 33 immigrants arrested at construction sites near The Villages. At least 30 individuals fled the scene.

20 states have sued the U.S government to challenge the legality and constitutionality of new immigration-related conditions that the federal government (via DHS and FEMA) has attached to $3 billion in annual grant for federal emergency preparedness and disaster relief grants. The Defendant is not Trump but DHS and FEMA,

In March and April, DHS and FEMA introduced new “Standard Terms and Conditions” for all federal emergency grants. These include “Civil Immigration Conditions”, which require states to:

• Divert state and local law enforcement resources to cooperate with federal civil immigration enforcement, beyond what state law currently requires or permits;
• Cease any programs that, in DHS’s view, “benefit illegal immigrants or incentivize illegal immigration”, including possibly sanctuary policies or services to undocumented individuals.

The states argue that these conditions are unauthorized by Congress. They coerce states into adopting federal immigration policy, violating the Spending Clause of the Constitution.

If DHS’s new conditions are upheld, states could lose access to this critical funding unless they comply with controversial federal immigration enforcement measures. In short, the federal government is demanding that states use their local resources to help enforce immigration laws, under threat of losing disaster and emergency funds. The states argue this is unconstitutional coercion.