Latest news with #ImmigrationsandCustomsEnforcement
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Trump admin's 3,000 ICE arrests per day quota is taking focus off criminals and ‘killing morale': insiders
The Trump administration's mandate to arrest 3,000 illegal migrants per day is forcing ICE agents to deprioritize going after dangerous criminals and targets with deportation orders, insiders warn. Instead, federal immigration officers are spending more time rounding up people off the streets, sources said. 'All that matters is numbers, pure numbers. Quantity over quality,' one Immigrations and Customs Enforcement insider told The Post. 9 Immigrations and Customs Enforcement insiders told The Post that the Trump administration's arrest quotas are 'killing morale' within the law enforcement agency. Photo by DavidThe policy is also 'unmaintainable' at current staffing levels, and it's 'killing morale,' sources added. And the agency is burning through its budget at a break-neck pace — with ICE already $1 billion over budget, Axios reported Monday. On Sunday, Trump doubled down on his plans to deport illegal immigrants, saying ICE agents would carry out the 'single largest Mass Deportation Program in History' in Democrat-led cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Agents are desperate to meet the White House's high expectations, leading them to leave some dangerous criminal illegal migrants on the streets, and instead look for anyone they can get their hands on at the local Home Depot or bus stop, ICE insiders said. 'These quotas are undermining the agency's ability to focus on the really serious criminal aliens,' said John Sandweg, a former acting ICE director under President Barack Obama. 9 The Trump administration has pushed ICE to make 3,000 arrests per day. AFP via Getty Images The quotas force ICE agents to let illegal migrant gangbangers and criminals fly under the radar because the feds no longer have the time for the days-long investigations it takes to hunt them down, said ICE insiders and Sandweg. 'The transnational gang members, the convicted felons, the bad actors make it hard on ICE find them. They don't just sit there and make it easy, they don't show up in a Home Depot parking lot, hanging around,' said Sandweg. He added: 'They have no choice but to pivot away from that guy because you could sink a hundred hours to get that gang member and you'd get one arrest, but it's a really good arrest and made a huge impact on public safety.' 9 Federal agents escort detainees after nabbing them after their immigration check-ins in New York City on June 4, 2205. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) 9 Federal agents detain a person outside an immigration courtroom at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York on June 10, 2025. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura White House advisor Stephen Miller instructed ICE to focus on easier targets as he ordered the agency to ramp up its arrest numbers, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month. In one meeting, he said he could sweep Home Depots and 7-Eleven convenience stores and immediately collar 30 illegal migrants in Washington, DC, according to the newspaper, which quoted sources in the room. 'Who here thinks they can do it?' Miller reportedly said. The Trump administration initially instituted a 1,800-per-day-quota in January. But ICE insiders say the quota is doing more harm than good. 'We are working constantly at an unmaintainable pace. It takes hours to process one person who is illegally in the country and to be told that what you're doing still isn't good enough is killing agents' morale,' said an ICE source. Another ICE source fumed that 'it gets harder and harder' as the days go by as agents are moving from 'targeted operations' aimed at catching criminals and migrants with removal orders to now hitting up 'people in the street' — like the raid on a Los Angeles-area Home Depot earlier this month, which drew massive protests and riots. DHS revealed on Monday that 75% of the migrants arrested in Trump's first 100 days had either convictions or pending criminal charges. It's a major shift from the early promises of Trump's border czar Tom Homan, who pledged that the mass deportation operation would 'concentrate on the worst of the worst,' days after the president's election victory. 9 Federal agents clash with protesters near a Home Depot in Paramount, Calf. after ICE raids on June 7, 2025. ALLISON DINNER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Trump at first seemed to back away from the expansion of the mass deportation effort, recognizing that it was taking its toll on the agricultural and hospitality industries. In a post on Truth Social last Thursday, Trump acknowledged that his deportation campaign was hurting the farming and hospitality industries. That same day, ICE officers across the country received an order to 'please hold on all work site enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants and operating hotels,' according to the New York Times. 9 ICE agents chasing migrant workers at a farm in Oxnard, Calif. on June 10, 2025. ABC7 9 ICE agents conducting a raid in a meat a Glenn Valley Foods meat production plant in Omaha on June 10, 2025. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Handout via REUTERS. 'Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,' Trump wrote. 'This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming,' he said. The Trump administration backed away from the pause days later — with Trump posting about stepping up raids in sanctuary cities. 9 Federal agents escorting detainees to vehicles in New York City on June 4, 2025. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images 'I want ICE, Border Patrol, and our Great and Patriotic Law Enforcement Officers, to FOCUS on our crime ridden and deadly Inner Cities, and those places where Sanctuary Cities play such a big role,' he posted Sunday. 'You don't hear about Sanctuary Cities in our Heartland!' Homeland Security officials directed agency leadership in a call Monday to resume raids at those businesses — which have higher proportions of illegal migrants in their workforce — following the short pause, according to the Washington Post and CNN. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Post that the agency is 'delivering on President Trump's and the American people's mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens to make America safe.' 'Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to target the worst of the worst,' she said, adding that 75% of ICE's arrests have been illegal migrants who have criminal convictions or pending charges. 'The shocking story here is that instead of deporting many heinous criminals, the Biden Administration chose to RELEASE these known public safety threats into our communities instead of deporting them. President Trump and Secretary Noem will always fight for the victims of illegal alien crime and their families,' said McLaughlin. 9 ICE inmates are seen waving to a drone, while holding a banner that says they want to be deported in Anson, Texas on May 12, 2025. Getty Images White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said 'anyone' who is in the US illegally 'is at risk of deportation.' 'President Trump is working hand-in-glove with DHS and ICE agents to deliver on his campaign promise to remove criminal illegal aliens from the country while executing the largest mass deportation program in history,' said Jackson. Jackson emphasized the 'critical' need for ICE to receive more funding from Congress through 'Trump's One, Big, Beautiful Bill' to continue the mass deportation raids. The bill would fund 'at least' one million deportations, 10,000 new ICE officers and 3,000 border agents, she said. It would also give immigration agents 'bonuses,' which Jackson said 'they've more than earned.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Alex Padilla handcuffed and forcibly removed from Kristi Noem's LA press conference
Federal law enforcement agents forcibly removed Sen. Alex Padilla from a June 12 press conference, forced him to the ground and handcuffed the California Democrat after he interrupted an event for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid mass protests over the administration's immigration crackdown. 'I am Senator Alex Padilla, I have questions for the secretary,' Padilla said as he was hauled from the room at a federal building in Los Angels where Noem was speaking. Noem said during the press conference that she doesn't know the two-term Padilla and that he hadn't requested a meeting with her. More: DHS ends temporary protections for 530K immigrants from these countries 'So when I leave here I'll have a conversation with him and visit and find out really what his concerns were,' the Trump Cabinet secretary said. 'I think everybody in America would agree that wasn't appropriate.' Noem's agency oversees Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, which has been carrying out raids in the city. Protesters have flooded downtown Los Angeles for five days, some of which have devolved into violence as protesters burn cars and loot buildings. 'We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate this city from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor and mayor have placed on this country,' Noem said as Padilla started asking: 'Madam Secretary I want to know why you insist on –' before he was grabbed by security guards. Padilla was pushed to the ground and handcuffed after being hauled out of the room. His office issued a statement shortly after a video of the incident went viral on social media. The senior senator from California was in Los Angeles to 'perform Congressional oversight of the federal government's operations in Los Angeles and across California,' his office said in a statement. 'He is not currently detained, and we are working to get additional information.' More: 'Unhinged': Democrats are furious Sen. Alex Padilla was hauled out of Noem briefing Democrats condemned Padilla's treatment. "If they can handcuff a U.S. Senator for asking a question, imagine what they will do to you," California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X. On the Senate floor, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, called the events in Los Angeles 'un-American' and urged an investigation. 'I just saw something that sickened my stomach, the manhandling of a United States Senator,' he said. 'We need immediate answers to what the hell went on.' This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alex Padilla handcuffed and removed from Noem's LA press conference
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Choking back tears, Sen. Alex Padilla details his LA handcuffing
WASHINGTON – Sen. Alex Padilla delivered an emotional floor speech June 17, his first remarks on the Senate floor since the California Democrat was dragged out of a press conference in Los Angeles held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, pushed to the floor, and handcuffed. "You've seen the video. I was pushed and pulled. Struggled to maintain my balance. I was forced to the ground, first on my knees and then flat on my chest," Padilla said as he choked back tears. "If that is what the administration is willing to do to a United States senator for having the authority to simply ask a question, imagine what they'll do to any American who dares to speak up." Federal law enforcement agents forcibly removed Padilla from Noem's June 12 press conference after he interrupted the event amid mass protests over the administration's immigration crackdown. More: 'Unhinged': Democrats are furious Sen. Alex Padilla was hauled out of Noem briefing Noem's agency oversees Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, which had been carrying out raids in Los Angeles. Protesters flooded the nation's second most populous city's downtown for days, some of which devolved into violence as protesters burned cars and looted buildings. Padilla said that he had gone to the federal building in Los Angeles where Noem was holding the press conference that day because he had a briefing with a four-star general about the military deployment in the city. His briefing was delayed by Noem's press conference, he said, so he asked an FBI agent and a national guardsman whether he could attend. They escorted him to the press conference, where he listened until Noem began speaking about plans to "liberate" Los Angeles. 'We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate this city from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor and mayor have placed on this country,' Noem said. Padilla started asking: 'Madam Secretary I want to know why you insist on –' before he was grabbed by security guards. During his floor speech, Padilla said the administration planned "to somehow liberate us from the very people we democratically elected to lead our city and our state. Let that fundamentally un-American mission statement sink in." "Are we truly prepared to live in a country where the president can deploy the armed forces to decide which duly elected governors and mayors can lead our constituents?" he continued. Noem said during the press conference that she didn't recognize the two-term Padilla and that he hadn't requested a meeting with her. They met for for 15 minutes afterward, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Tricia McLaughlin, a Trump DHS official, wrote on X that Padilla's actions were "disrespectful political theatre" and claimed that the Secret Service believed he was an attacker. Republicans in Congress similarly put the blame on Padilla. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, told reporters shortly after the event that Padilla's actions were "wildly inappropriate" and said he should be censured. Democrats were furious upon viewing the viral video of Padilla being forced to the ground. "Anybody that looks at that video will understand that this amounts to an assault, a felony," said Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-New York, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. "The White House is unhinged and out of control." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sen. Padilla chokes back tears in floor speech on handcuffing
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Bring Kilmar home': Protesters gathered outside Nashville federal court for Kilmar Abrego Garcia
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tensions ran high outside a Nashville federal courthouse as dozens of protesters rallied to support Kilmar Abrego Garcia. While the hearing was taking place inside, protesters gathered outside the Fred D. Thompson Federal Building and Courthouse — holding signs, chanting and delivering emotional speeches to the crowd. They demanded three things: due process for Abrego Garcia, for the abolition of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and an end to what they called the weaponization of the U.S. Government. Wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia spoke before hearing 'The way this whole thing has been handled has been illegal and racist,' Rebecca Bornac, a resident in Nashville, said. 'I wanted Kilmar to know we support him, and we support his right to a fair trial.' Abrego Garcia was deported to an El Salvador prison in March. He's been accused of conspiring to bring undocumented immigrants to the U.S. from 2016 to 2025. 'As a citizen of the United States, I am deeply sorry and ashamed for the treatment that my country has visited upon Mr. Abrego Garcia, which violates our core principles as a people and his rights on U.S. soil,' Ian Montgomery, Organizer with United Volunteers and Organizers for Tennessee expressed. Speeches continued for almost three hours, and some participants went into the courtroom to listen in to the arraignment firsthand. 'He was in an orange jumpsuit, and everything was peaceful and fine,' Margaret Pitts, a resident in Nashville, explained. 'To be a part of it and witness it felt really important.' Kilmar Abrego Garcia pleads not guilty in Nashville courtroom on federal charges The participants told News 2 that they would never stop fighting for Abrego's freedom. 'We are people, Nashvillians, Tennesseans, standing up for what is right, standing up for our constitution for our neighbors and due process,' a protester expressed. The protest wrapped up around 11:30 a.m. due to inclement weather, but event organizers told News 2 they will be back out again on Saturday for 'No Kings' at Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Accidentally Reveals a Dark MAGA Truth—and Hands Dems an Opening
This week, President Donald Trump admitted on Truth Social that his mass deportations are hurting farmers and the economy. Those removals are 'taking very good, longtime workers away' from farms and hotels, Trump declared, adding that those workers are proving 'impossible to replace.' To be clear, Trump was talking about his own immigration policies. That's a stunning acknowledgment that Trump's forced mass removals are targeting hard-working folks and that those undocumented immigrants aren't taking Americans' jobs. But it's also functionally an admission of political vulnerability. Trump plainly grasps that his deportations are now perceived—accurately—as needlessly targeting good people who are contributing vitally to our economy and society, and not primarily the violent 'criminal migrant' class that Trump and Stephen Miller keep insisting they're removing. If you doubt this, then go listen to vulnerable House Republicans on the matter. In a new letter that's gotten almost zero media attention, six of them effectively reveal that they now see Trump's deportations as a political problem along exactly those lines. Democrats who worry about taking on this issue should ask themselves: If even Republicans are showing fear on it, isn't it time to drop the skittishness and engage already? The letter—which six House Republicans sent to acting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons—openly calls on ICE to redirect its deportation resources toward 'convicted criminal aliens' and away from undocumented immigrants who are not convicted criminals. Naturally, the letter goes through the motions of hailing Trump's glorious toughness and infallibility on immigration. But these Republicans also state that they are 'concerned' that Trump's 'limited resources may be stretched to pursue individuals that do not constitute an immediate threat to public safety': Every minute that we spend pursuing an individual with a clean record is a minute less that we dedicate to apprehending terrorists or cartel operatives.… We need to give absolute priority to every violent offender and convicted criminal illegal alien present in our nation. Diverting limited resources to other objectives puts our national security at risk. Consider what this really means. These Republicans are admitting forthrightly that deportations that sweep widely—beyond convicted criminals—take resources away from pursuing the dangerous and violent, and that this makes us less safe, and that this is precisely Trump's policy. The letter is signed by representatives like David Valadao of California, Gabe Evans of Colorado, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, and several others. Those are among the most vulnerable Republicans in next year's midterm elections. Now, anyone who understands politics will get that these members are putting out this letter so their local papers will report on how 'concerned' they are about removals hitting their districts' local businesses. In the end, they'll enthusiastically back whatever Trump does. But this is nonetheless a revealing moment. To see why, note that Miller, who is reportedly raging about lagging arrests and deportations, is shrieking wildly at ICE officials, commanding them to round up as many migrants as possible by searching for day laborers in Home Depot parking lots. The key point here is that to boost those numbers, Trump and Miller have to go after noncriminal migrants. There aren't enough criminals around to pad the numbers, and targeting noncriminals is less resource-intensive. In other words, Miller is deliberately choosing to focus more resources on noncriminals—and thus away from dangerous criminals. Law enforcement insiders have leaked word of their anger over exactly this. Which is what these Republicans are obliquely criticizing. In so doing, what they're really demonstrating is that Trump-Miller-MAGA propaganda is failing. To get voters to support mass removals, Trump and Miller have relentlessly smeared targeted migrants as uniformly dangerous criminals. But polls show that majorities oppose removing undocumented longtime residents, people with jobs, and those who don't have a criminal record. The public is even souring on deportations more broadly. And as NBC's Natasha Korecki reports, headlines about deported families and other deeply sympathetic cases are growing more common. If this weren't becoming a major political problem, vulnerable Republicans would not have to distance themselves from all of it. Which raises a question: If those Republicans fear the politics of mass deportations, then why can't Democrats engage on them more vocally? Trump has himself now admitted to precisely the same thing as those Republicans did: His mass deportations are sweeping up countless people who make essential contributions to economies and communities, to the detriment of our country. Yet after that admission, we saw only a handful of perfunctory statements from Democrats about it. This is puzzling because Trump's admission repudiates MAGA ideology and politics at a very profound level. A core MAGA tenet is the idea that undocumented immigrants must be forcibly removed because their presence is taking jobs from Americans who are now forced to molder away in idleness and social stagnation. In some iterations of this—see JD Vance's lament to Ross Douthat in 2024—elites are treacherously in on this scheme. In this mythology, those elites deliberately avoid employing American workers—while sneering at them as lazy and entitled, to boot—precisely because they have the option of hiring undocumented immigrants. But Trump's own admission—and to some degree that of these vulnerable House Republicans—undercuts that story. As Trump himself concedes, there is not a rush of Americans looking to fill vacancies left by deported immigrants. Some MAGA proponents might argue that many undocumented immigrants still take Americans' jobs, even if farmworkers do not. But this has largely been debunked. And as Andrew Egger notes, Miller appears to have quickly persuaded Trump to clarify that he isn't backing off mass deportations; Miller clearly understood how damaging Trump's admission truly was. Indeed, Trump's confession arguably undermines the broader zero-sum foundation of the MAGA worldview, which holds that any undocumented immigrant's gain is an American worker's loss. The reality is that undocumented immigrants often complement the American workforce. Without realizing it, Trump admitted this himself. Why can't Democrats point this out? House Republicans in swing territory have openly demonstrated their vulnerability to these arguments. As they've revealed, in places like Miami and the suburbs of Los Angeles and Denver—home to those GOP districts, where control of the House will be decided—opposition to cruel and indiscriminate mass deportations is growing. Trump has unwittingly produced the perfect weapon to make the case. So what's the holdup here, Democrats?
