ICE crackdown sees 7,400 illegal migrants arrested in 9 days

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been on a mission to crack down on illegal immigration since the new Trump administration took office. In just nine days, over 7,400 people have been arrested in several states as part of this aggressive campaign.
ICE officers have been conducting raids on homes, work sites, and other establishments, leading to a surge in deportations. The Trump administration has also promised to send the most violent migrants to Guantánamo Bay as part of their efforts to enhance national security.
As of January 31st, ICE has arrested a total of 7,412 individuals who are in the country illegally. Nearly 6,000 ICE detainers have also been placed on these individuals, indicating that they are a priority for removal.
Recent raids in cities like New York City, Chicago, and Boston have led to the arrest of individuals accused of heinous crimes such as sex offenses against minors, rapes, gun and drug offenses, as well as violent gang members from groups like Tren de Aragua and MS-13.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has emphasized that ICE is specifically targeting the “worst of the worst” in these raids, making the streets safer for communities. Many of these operations have been conducted in collaboration with other federal agencies like the DEA, ATF, and FBI.
In a recent raid in New York City, ICE arrested Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, an alleged ringleader of the violent Tren de Aragua gang. This arrest came after Zambrano-Pacheco was caught on camera leading a violent raid in Colorado last summer. Another arrest in Massachusetts targeted Luis Adolfo Guerra Perez, a Guatemalan citizen and MS-13 gang member facing gun charges.
While details of the criminal histories of the 7,412 individuals arrested are not yet available, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has confirmed that the most dangerous criminal migrants will be temporarily housed at Guantánamo Bay. President Trump has instructed the Pentagon to prepare the detention camp to hold up to 30,000 “criminal illegal aliens.”
The news of these arrests has been met with mixed reactions, with some residents in affected areas welcoming the removal of criminals from their communities. However, not everyone agrees with the raids, as some mayors like Brandon Johnson of Chicago and Michelle Wu of Boston have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining sanctuary city status.
Overall, the crackdown on illegal immigration by ICE is ongoing, and the agency remains focused on targeting violent criminals and gang members to ensure public safety. The collaboration with other federal agencies and the potential use of Guantánamo Bay as a detention facility for criminal migrants highlights the administration’s determination to address immigration issues effectively.