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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have arrested hundreds of undocumented immigrants on the first full day of Donald Trump's presidency, according to the agency's new chief.
Border Czar Tom Homan told Fox News Wednesday: "In the last 24 hours, ICE arrested over 308 serious criminals. Some of them were murderers. Some of them were rapists. Some of them raped a child."
Senator Katie Boyd Britt of Alabama said that ICE agents arrested 308 unlawful immigrants across the United States in a post on X, but did not provide further details. It was not immediately clear where the arrests were being carried out.
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Newsweek has contacted the White House and ICE for further comment via email.
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Why It Matters
The mass arrests reflect the Trump administration's priority to begin deportation proceedings against millions of migrants in the U.S. illegally. Still, as of midday Wednesday there were still no signs of large-scale ICE raids that had been reported to take place in cities like Chicago.
What To Know
According to Senator Britt, the arrests targeted individuals who had committed serious crimes, including murder, rape, sex offenses, and kidnapping.
ICE reportedly ordered nearly 300 undocumented migrants to be released from local jails and into ICE custody, per Britt's post on social media.
Homan also said that apprehensions at the southern border had fallen to 766 in the last 24 hours. Those numbers could not be immediately confirmed.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously told Newsweek that Trump will carry out "the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history while simultaneously lowering costs for families."
The acting director of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a directive Tuesday ending the policy that ICE agents would not conduct actions in or near "sensitive" areas, such as churches, hospitals, or schools.
Schools and churches are concerned over the policy shifts targeting undocumented immigrants in sensitive locations.
In Connecticut, Bridgeport Public Schools announced new guidelines designed to protect students in the event of an attempted raid by ICE agents in the district.
Faith leaders have called Trump's policies on mass deportations "incompatible with Catholic doctrines.
Business leaders have expressed fears of removing millions of undocumented immigrants from the workforce and damaging the economy.
Mass removals could cost the U.S. $315 billion for a one-time effort, according to the American Immigration Council.The long-term cost of deporting a million people per year could average $88 billion annually, totaling $967.9 billion over a decade. This would require a vast expansion of detention and court systems.
What People Are Saying
Britt of Alabama said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "Promises made, promises kept! The Trump Administration's first full day of ICE enforcement was larger than any day in four years of the Biden Administration. Today, ICE made 308 arrests of illegal aliens in our nation's interior—even with the frigid temperatures.
"These arrests were nationwide in every area of interest and included several murderers, rapists, sex offenders, and kidnappers. ICE also went to jails and ordered almost 300 additional aliens to be released to ICE custody rather than our nation's streets. Common sense is back."
"No, it started [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] teams are out there as of today," Homan said on "America's Newsroom." "We gave them direction to prioritize public safety threats that we're looking for. We've been working up the target list."
Homan told Fox News: "ICE is doing their job, and they're prioritizing, just as the president said they would. So ICE is performing excellent right now out in the field, and they're going to continue every day.
What Happens Next
As the Trump administration continues its aggressive stance on immigration enforcement, ICE operations will likely escalate in the coming days. The policy shift to target sensitive locations, such as schools, hospitals, and churches, could further heighten tensions between the federal government and local communities.
Some local and state governments are also expected to challenge or resist federal actions, creating a potential legal showdown between federal immigration authorities and local jurisdictions.
The Justice Department on Wednesday ordered prosecutors to investigate any government officials at the state or local effort who refuse to enforce Trump's immigration policies.
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