In a highly publicized press release, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it arrested 66,463 undocumented individuals and removed 65,682 people from the United States in the first 100 days of President Donald J. Trump's second term. The announcement, delivered with celebratory tone by ICE leadership, lauds these actions as a victory for public safety and national security.

But beneath the surface of these numbers lies a troubling erosion of constitutional protections, growing fears within immigrant communities, and legal questions about the sweeping use of federal and local power to detain and deport.

According to ICE, roughly three out of every four people arrested were labeled “criminal illegal aliens,” including 2,288 individuals identified as gang members and hundreds accused of serious offenses like murder and sex crimes. While no one disputes the government's interest in apprehending dangerous individuals, the Trump administration's use of the term “criminal illegal alien” remains overly broad and legally ambiguous. Often, minor infractions — such as traffic violations or expired documents — are used to justify detention and deportation under the same label used for violent offenders.

ICE also highlighted its dramatic expansion of the controversial 287(g) Program, which deputizes local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. Since January 20, over 444 new agreements have been added, bringing the total to 579 partnerships with state and local police departments. This program has long been criticized by civil rights organizations and immigration advocates for fueling racial profiling, discouraging immigrant cooperation with police, and undermining community trust.

Additionally, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division reported arresting over 1,000 undocumented workers in workplace raids and levying $1 million in proposed fines against employers. While the agency claims these operations “protect American businesses,” in practice, they often devastate entire communities, disrupt families, and penalize workers who are exploited by employers more than the employers themselves.

One particularly alarming development was HSI's report of dismantling a human smuggling ring allegedly responsible for bringing 500 to 700 individuals into the U.S. annually — individuals ICE claims were “never vetted.” While combating smuggling networks is undoubtedly critical, ICE's emphasis on numbers and speed raises serious concerns about whether due process and asylum protections are being upheld for those swept up in such operations.

A “Whole-of-Government” Crackdown — But Where Are the Constitutional Safeguards?

This press release makes it clear: immigration enforcement under the Trump administration is operating in high gear, enabled by expanded state cooperation and broad executive authority. But what's missing is any mention of constitutional rights, humanitarian protections, or the due process that forms the bedrock of our legal system.

At Saluja Law, we represent clients every day who are caught in the dragnet of these policies — hardworking individuals with U.S. citizen children, asylum seekers fleeing persecution, and immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for decades without incident. The narrative ICE pushes, one that conflates immigration status with criminality, paints with too broad a brush and endangers the very values America purports to stand for: fairness, justice, and opportunity.

We urge Congress, the courts, and the public to scrutinize this escalation in enforcement and ask whether America is truly safer — or simply more divided — because of it.

If you or someone you know has been affected by ICE enforcement actions, contact Saluja Law for experienced, compassionate, and aggressive legal representation. We are committed to defending immigrant rights and holding our government accountable.