U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has significantly increased its arrest operations, apprehending 10,000 individuals over a five-day period. This intensified enforcement comes as a recent Supreme Court decision dealt a blow to the Trump administration's efforts to alter immigration policy.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge from former President Donald Trump to end birthright citizenship, thereby upholding the long-established principle that most children born on U.S. soil automatically acquire citizenship, regardless of their parents' immigration status.
According to an individual with direct knowledge of ICE's activities, the agency is currently boosting its operations, utilizing funding from the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' as the legislation approaches its one-year mark.
Supreme Court Affirms Birthright Citizenship
The high court's decision was rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. The ruling stated,
Children born in the United States to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are 'subject to the jurisdiction' of the United States and are citizens at birth under the Fourteenth Amendment's Citizenship Clause.
Former President Trump criticized the ruling, urging Congress to take action to amend the Constitution to abolish birthright citizenship. He conveyed his strong opinion on social media, stating,
No long and unwieldy Constitutional Amendment is necessary! Congress should start TODAY to work on ending expensive and unfair to our Country, Birthright Citizenship. They will have my Complete and Total Support!
Nationwide Protests and Enforcement Focus
As ICE intensifies its arrest activities, various activist groups have been organizing demonstrations across the nation. These groups are advocating for improved living conditions for individuals held in federal detention centers and demanding reforms to ICE's operational procedures.
In late May, a notable protest occurred at the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, where demonstrators clashed with ICE agents and local law enforcement officers.
The coalition supporting the Delaney Hall protests reportedly consists of approximately 100 organizations, including prominent entities such as the ACLU, Indivisible, and Democratic Socialists of America. Collectively, these groups report annual revenues totaling around $825 million, an amount roughly equivalent to Newark's yearly municipal budget.
Despite this organized opposition, ICE operations have continued. Lauren Bis, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), issued a statement confirming that the majority of arrests target migrants who have prior criminal charges or convictions.
Bis elaborated,
Since Day One, DHS law enforcement has been delivering on President Trump’s promise to the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists.
She further clarified the agency's focus:
Nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. More than 3 million illegal aliens are out of the country and counting. Our message is clear: if you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you.
