Trump Administration Launches Mass Deportation Operation, Arrests 538

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hundreds of undocumented immigrants, including suspected criminals and gang members, were arrested and deported Thursday as part of a sweeping immigration enforcement operation initiated by the Trump administration, the White House announced.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that 538 individuals were arrested, including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several convicted of sex crimes against minors. “The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway,” Leavitt stated in a Thursday night briefing.

According to defense officials, two military aircraft transported 81 deportees to Guatemala overnight. A Guatemalan official, however, reported that 79 Guatemalan nationals—31 women and 48 men—were returned. The discrepancy in numbers was not immediately explained.

The use of military aircraft for deportation flights was approved under the Trump administration, three officials confirmed. This move aligns with President Trump‘s executive action to increase military presence at the U.S. border and crack down on illegal immigration.

Tren de Aragua, a violent gang originating in Venezuela, has recently expanded its operations into the U.S., raising concerns among law enforcement agencies. The arrests of its members highlight the administration’s focus on targeting criminal elements within the undocumented immigrant population.

Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat, criticized the operation, alleging that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained individuals, including a U.S. military veteran, without presenting warrants. “These actions are causing fear and disruption in our communities,” Baraka said in a statement.

An estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants reside in the U.S., many of whom have lived in the country for decades. The Trump administration’s latest actions mark a significant escalation in its efforts to overhaul the nation’s immigration system.