Days after assuming office as the new President of the United States, Donald Trump is making good on one of his biggest and most ambitious election promises - the deportation of illegal immigrants.
US authorities arrested 538 migrants and deported hundreds in a mass operation just days into President Donald Trump's second administration, his press secretary said.
"The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals," Karoline Leavitt said, adding "hundreds" were deported by military aircraft.
"The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept," she said.
Trump has vowed to carry out "the largest deportation operation in American history," impacting an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants in the United States.
On his first day in office, Trump signed orders declaring a "national emergency" at the southern border and announced the deployment of more troops to the area while vowing to deport "criminal aliens."
The Trump administration has also decided to reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" policy, which was in place during his first term in office, under which people who apply to enter the United States from Mexico must remain there until their application has been decided.
The Senate and House of Representatives have also passed the Laken Riley Act, under which it is required to detain unauthorised immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes.
The bill also empowers state attorneys general to sue the federal government for harm caused by failures or decisions in immigration enforcement that harm states or people. That includes releasing migrants from custody or failing to detain migrants who have received deportation orders.
Also read:?Laken Riley Act: Here is how the immigrant detention bill would affect undocumented Indians in US
Meanwhile, Mexico is preparing for an influx of both deported nationals and citizens of other countries who had their asylum claims rejected by the US.
Mexican authorities have begun constructing giant tent shelters in the city of Ciudad Juarez, having the capacity to house thousands of people to accommodate the illegal immigrants deported by the US.
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