Law enforcement was strictly adhered to after hundreds of undocumented immigrants were arrested and detained, some of whom were also deported, according to multiple reports. The series of raids, conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), seemed to be the outcome of President Donald Trump's immigration policy executed last month.
The ICE raids were carried out in seven states, including Texas and other “target-rich” locations where almost 1.5 million undocumented immigrants were residing, as noted by the latest statistics. "ICE will continue to remove those who pose a threat to public safety especially those who've harmed our children," Phoenix ICE official Henry Lucero said in an official statement.
He further explained how America does not guarantee the safety of individuals who are running away from punishment in their home countries. Carrying out the latest ICE raids merely adhered to Trump's immigration policy and was only appropriate to make sure that foreign escapees are returned to their countries and face punishment for their crimes.
In Arizona, Guadalupe Garcie de Rayos became the first female to be deported from the state under Trump’s immigration policy. The 35-year-old woman had previously faked her Social Security number and had been residing in the U.S. since her teenage years. During the ICE raids, she was taken into custody for the routine check-in and was subsequently deported, leaving behind her husband and two daughters in the U.S.
In California, reports on ICE raids began to circulate since Thursday, leading to mass demonstrations in Los Angeles after 160 individuals were reportedly arrested or detained. More ICE raids were carried out in Chicago that is also referred to as Sanctuary City. This means that the undocumented immigrants’ crimes are not reported by the local officials to the federal authorities, as reported by Chicago Tribune, although Trump's immigration policy will eventually push towards the monitoring of such issues.
Confirmed reports of ICE raids also brought together hundreds of New Yorkers to protest against Trump’s immigration policy. The Empire State Building had reportedly been one of the main targets for the raids. South Carolina was similarly a major target as one-third of the total of ICE raid arrests were carried out in the state. According to the agents, around 200 arrests were made in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia alone.
Texas Congressman Rep. Joaquin Castro released an official statement on the ICE raids on Twitter. He said that the agency should clarify whether the arrested individuals pose an actual threat to the community or are peacefully living with their families and making their own contributions to the country.
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