Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 32809 illegal aliens between January 20 and March 10 of this year outpacing the entire 2024 fiscal year total under President Biden reported Fox News. This sharp uptick follows President Trump’s renewed crackdown on illegal immigration launched after his January inauguration. The figures signal a dramatic shift in enforcement priorities as the administration targets border security and public safety threats.
Fox data shows Biden’s ICE nabbed 33300 illegal immigrants across all of fiscal 2024 a period marked by laxer policies per critics. Trump’s team credits the surge to expanded operations including workplace raids and community sweeps aimed at deporting criminals. Officials say over 60 percent of those detained in 2025 had prior convictions ranging from drug trafficking to violent assaults.
The aggressive pace has reignited debate over immigration with conservatives hailing it as a win for law and order. Advocates for immigrants argue it tears apart families and sows fear in communities already strained by policy whiplash. ICE Director Patrick Lechleitner defended the arrests vowing to prioritize felons while processing others per legal mandates.
Border states like Texas and Arizona report the highest arrest numbers with 12000 and 9000 respectively reflecting heavy migrant inflows. Local sheriffs praise the federal backup but warn of jail overcrowding as deportations lag behind detentions. Trump has promised to streamline removals though logistical hurdles persist amid court backlogs.
Critics point to Biden’s tenure when illegal crossings hit record highs with over 2 million encounters in 2024 alone per Customs and Border Protection. They claim his softer stance emboldened cartels and smugglers setting the stage for today’s crisis. Supporters counter that Trump’s mass arrests risk profiling and overburdening an already strained immigration system.
ICE’s budget swelled by $1.2 billion this year fueling the hiring of 3000 new agents to execute Trump’s vision. The agency touts early successes like dismantling a fentanyl ring tied to 15 overdoses in Ohio last month. Yet human rights groups decry the scale alleging it diverts resources from vetting legitimate asylum claims.
Public reaction splits along familiar lines with polls showing 55 percent of Americans back tougher enforcement per Gallup. Urban liberals decry the optics of raids while rural voters demand even more action against illegal entries. Trump leans into the divide framing it as proof he’s keeping campaign promises on border control.
The arrest boom sets a torrid pace for 2025 potentially topping 150000 by year’s end if trends hold say analysts. It marks a stark reversal from Biden’s approach thrusting ICE back into the spotlight of a polarized nation. Whether this blitz restores order or fuels chaos depends on execution and the courts now swamped with challenges.
Coverage Details
| Total News Sources | 29 |
| Left | 6 |
| Right | 14 |
| Center | 7 |
| Unrated | 2 |
| Bias Distribution | 48% Right |
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