Trump's Second Term Begins Illegal Immigrant Deportation Operation... "Priority on Criminal Offenders"

Tom Homan, the 'Border Czar,' Interview with CNN
"If Found, Even Those Without Criminal Records Will Be Arrested"

Tom Homan, the 'border czar' of former U.S. President Donald Trump's second administration, announced the commencement of crackdowns on illegal immigrants. Just one day after President Trump signed an anti-immigration executive order on his inauguration day, the government's operations to arrest, detain, and deport undocumented residents within the United States have been fully launched.

On the 21st (local time), Homan told CNN in an interview that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has begun crackdowns on illegal residents across the country.

He stated, "Illegal residents with criminal records pose a threat to public safety," adding, "They are our priority."

Homan said that ICE is identifying the whereabouts of illegal residents with criminal records. However, he explained that arrests are difficult in 'sanctuary cities' due to interference from local authorities. In the U.S., sanctuary cities refer to local governments that do not cooperate with or prohibit cooperation with the federal government's crackdown on undocumented residents. Most sanctuary cities are led by Democratic officials who are lenient on immigration policies.

Homan made it clear that illegal residents without criminal records are also targets of the crackdown.

He said, "We may also find people who have no criminal records but are staying illegally," adding, "Because we are not on strike, they will also be arrested." He continued, "The Immigration and Nationality Act does not require a serious criminal conviction for deportation from this country," emphasizing, "ICE will enforce immigration laws."

On the first day of his second term, President Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency in the southern border region to address illegal immigration. In his inaugural speech, he also expressed his intention to deploy the military to deport illegal immigrants. It is anticipated that under Trump's second-term immigration policies, the number of immigrants voluntarily leaving the U.S. will increase, while the number of new immigrants entering the U.S. will decrease.