U.S. Immigration Arrests Target Violent Offenders Over Memorial Day Weekend

After years of open borders and catch-and-release policies, ICE finally gets serious with 956 arrests in a single day, hauling away hardened criminals who’ve been preying on American communities while Democrats cry foul.

Key Points

ICE arrested 956 people on a single day, marking the largest number of arrests by the Trump administration to date.
A raid near Austin, Texas, led to the arrest of 47 individuals by ICE, targeting suspected members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, known for human smuggling, trafficking, and other violent crimes.
Arrests were conducted in multiple cities including Boston, Denver, Houston, Newark, New York City, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco, targeting violent offenders.
Among those arrested were individuals charged with sexual assault, aggravated assault with deadly weapons, and drug distribution.
The Trump administration has instructed ICE’s 25 field offices to enhance operations with a quota of 1,200 to 1,500 arrests per day.

ICE Finally Unleashed After Years of Handcuffing

While Americans were honoring fallen heroes this Memorial Day weekend, ICE officers were busy removing a different kind of threat from our streets. Federal immigration authorities conducted a massive nationwide sweep targeting violent criminal aliens who have been allowed to roam free in our communities for far too long. The operation spanned seven major cities, including Boston, Denver, Houston, Newark, New York City, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco – all sanctuaries where illegal immigrants have enjoyed protection from deportation under previous administrations.

This isn’t your garden-variety immigration enforcement. These arrests targeted individuals charged with heinous crimes – sexual assault, aggravated assault with deadly weapons, and drug trafficking. Remember when the Biden administration told us they were only focusing on “the worst of the worst”? Funny how thousands of violent criminals somehow slipped through those supposedly tight filters. Even more telling is how many of these offenders had already been deported and decided our border was just a minor inconvenience to their criminal enterprises.

Venezuelan Gang Members Among Those Rounded Up

In a particularly significant operation near Austin, Texas, ICE and FBI agents arrested 47 individuals with suspected ties to the notorious Tren de Aragua gang – a Venezuelan criminal organization that has been rapidly spreading throughout the hemisphere. This isn’t just any street gang; it’s so dangerous that the U.S. Treasury Department formally designated it as a transnational criminal organization earlier this year. Of course, leftist protesters still showed up to block ICE vehicles, because apparently, violent foreign gang members deserve more protection than American citizens.

The raid netted 25 adult men, nine single females, and four female heads of households with nine children. They weren’t here for a better life – they were here to bring the same violence and criminal activity that has devastated their home country. Drugs were seized during the raid, and unsurprisingly, all those arrested were in the country illegally. The children in custody are a stark reminder of how these criminal organizations exploit every weakness in our system, including using minors as shields against enforcement.

Sanctuary Cities No Longer Safe for Criminal Aliens

The scale of these operations represents a dramatic shift from the previous administration’s approach, which essentially gave sanctuary cities a free pass to harbor illegal immigrants regardless of their criminal history. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem personally joined enforcement operations in New York City, sending a crystal-clear message that the federal government will no longer allow local jurisdictions to obstruct immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson proudly announced that Chicago police refused to assist in the ICE operations – apparently protecting foreign criminals is more important than protecting Chicago residents.

The administration has instructed ICE’s 25 field offices to significantly ramp up operations, with a target of 1,200 to 1,500 arrests daily. Since the Trump administration’s inauguration, there have been at least 4,829 arrests, with numbers steadily climbing. After years of having their hands tied by political directives, ICE officers are finally being allowed to do their jobs. The most dangerous offenders are being prioritized, but make no mistake – the days of catch-and-release are over. Most of those arrested over the weekend will remain in custody pending removal proceedings, with at least one already deported to Mexico.

The Left’s Predictable Resistance

As expected, the ACLU and other leftist organizations are frantically filing legal challenges to halt deportations, particularly of Venezuelan nationals. They’re suing to block the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act, despite the clear national security threat posed by organizations like Tren de Aragua. The Justice Department has had to appeal to the Supreme Court to allow these necessary deportations to proceed. It’s a sad commentary on our times when removing violent foreign criminals from American soil requires a protracted legal battle.

While Americans struggle with inflation, crime, and economic uncertainty, it’s refreshing to see federal resources finally being directed toward addressing a crisis that affects every aspect of our national security and public safety. The message is clear: If you’re in this country illegally and committing crimes, your days of exploiting America’s generosity and porous borders are numbered. For millions of law-abiding Americans who have demanded action, these arrests are a long-overdue first step toward restoring order and the rule of law.