On Monday, a day after Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement that it had made 956 arrests as part of President Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, the actress and singer Selena Gomez posted an Instagram video to her 422 million followers in which she discussed the situation while crying.
She has since deleted the original post, but its short run online created quite a stir, with Mr. Trump’s “border czar” and numerous political commentators weighing in. One of the commentators called for Ms. Gomez, who was born in Texas, to be deported.
Immigration is a subject personal to Ms. Gomez, a star of the television show “Only Murders in the Building” and the Oscar-nominated film “Emilia Pérez.” In 2019, she wrote an essay for Time magazine in which she reflected on being the granddaughter of undocumented immigrants from Mexico who eventually gained U.S. citizenship. Her aunt, she said, crossed the border hidden in the back of a truck. Her father was born in the United States.
“Immigration is a divisive political issue,” Ms. Gomez wrote. “But immigration goes beyond politics and headlines. It is a human issue, affecting real people, dismantling real lives.”
In 2017, Ms. Gomez was an executive producer on the Netflix documentary “Living Undocumented,” which looked at the lives of eight families living in the United States. “I watched footage outlining their deeply personal journeys and I cried,” Ms. Gomez wrote in the Time essay. “It captured the shame, uncertainty and fear I saw my own family struggle with.”
With Mr. Trump quickly fulfilling his campaign promise to ramp up arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants, Ms. Gomez was again moved to tears, this time on social media.
What was her original post?
Ms. Gomez, sitting in a beige-colored room and looking into the camera, said, “All my people are getting attacked, the children.” She was visibly distraught; her face appeared red from crying and her voice broke as she spoke. Wiping away tears, she added, “I don’t understand. I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something, but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.” Ms. Gomez’s video was captioned with the words, “I’m sorry” next to a Mexican flag emoji.
Why did she delete it?
After her post, Ms. Gomez was immediately hit with a great deal of negative feedback on all social media platforms, which she acknowledged in her Instagram stories. “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people,” she wrote in a follow-up post that was also deleted.
What were the reactions to her post?
Thomas D. Homan, the acting director of ICE during Mr. Trump’s first term and current White House “border czar,” took issue with Ms. Gomez’s post. In an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Mr. Homan suggested that Ms. Gomez’s empathy for deported immigrants was misplaced. “We’ve got a quarter of a million Americans dead from fentanyl coming across an open border. Where’s the tears for them?” Mr. Homan said.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative political group Turning Point USA, questioned on X why Ms. Gomez, an American, would identify with the undocumented immigrants rather than her fellow Americans. The political commentator Tomi Lahren said on X, “This is why we don’t take our political advice from Disney child stars.”
Among the most extreme reactions came from Samuel Parker, a Republican who sought to run for the U.S. Senate from Utah in 2018. He wrote a post on X in which he called Ms. Gomez’s grandparents “illegals,” despite their having been naturalized as U.S. citizens, and said, “Maybe Selena should be deported, too?”
Others took a more measured approach to Ms. Gomez’s tearful message. “This is an issue for some people that is extremely emotional,” Ashley Allison, a CNN political commentator and former staffer in the Obama and Biden administrations, said during a round-table discussion on the network. “I’m not going to demean Selena Gomez because she was emotionally enraged.”
She also received public support from a wide range of prominent people, including Michigan’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer; the former talk-show host Geraldo Rivera and the rapper Flavor Flav.
Has she responded to the criticism?
Yes. In an Instagram story, Ms. Gomez responded to Mr. Parker, writing, “Oh Mr. Parker, Mr. Parker. Thanks for the laugh and the threat.”
Mr. Parker pinned a screenshot of her message to the top of his X profile.
Selena Gomez’s Deleted Post About Undocumented Immigrants Draws Criticism
Selena Gomez recently took to social media to share a post in support of undocumented immigrants, calling for compassion and understanding towards those seeking a better life. However, the post was quickly deleted after receiving backlash and criticism from some of her followers.
Many criticized Gomez for speaking out on a political issue, with some arguing that celebrities should stay out of politics. Others accused her of being out of touch with the realities of illegal immigration and the impact it has on communities.
While Gomez has been vocal about her support for immigrant rights in the past, this latest post sparked a firestorm of debate and controversy. Some defended her right to speak out, praising her for using her platform to raise awareness about important issues.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, it’s clear that Selena Gomez’s deleted post has sparked a conversation about immigration and the role of celebrities in activism. What are your thoughts on this situation? Let us know in the comments below.
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A confrontational legislative hearing Monday — with a witness calling a state senator a fascist and lawmakers battling over whether the state should put a bounty on undocumented immigrants — set the tone for this year’s debate on immigration and the state’s role in border security.
The most aggressive approach, in a bill filed by state Sen. David Gregory, would award a $1,000 bounty for tips that result in the arrest of a person present in the United States without authorization. Gregory, a Republican from Chesterfield, wants to authorize bounty hunters, usually employed by bail bond businesses to catch absconders, to track down people identified in tips.
And if the tip proves accurate, the person arrested would be charged with “trespass by an illegal alien,” and subject to life in prison without parole if federal immigration authorities declined to take custody.
“This bill seeks to create an ICE program at the state level,” Gregory told the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee. “That’s essentially all it does. This is an ICE program inside the state of Missouri.”
State Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, questions state Sen. Jill Carter on Monday about her bill that would create new crimes based on immigration status (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).
State Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, said it encourages people to make reports based on skin color or English proficiency.
“Don’t tell me it is not going to happen because it is happening now,” Washington said.
Gregory’s bill — and another heard Monday from state Sen. Jill Carter, a Joplin Republican — are among several introduced by Republicans this session seeking to make it more difficult for undocumented immigrants to remain in the state.
Carter’s bill would also create new crimes based on immigration status. For simply being undocumented, a person could be charged with “improper entry” and could be punished by a fine of up to $10,000 and removal to a U.S. port of entry for deportation
The crime of “aggravated illegal presence” would be a felony applying to undocumented people who violated any other Missouri law. The penalty would be increased if the violation was a felony law.
Immigration and border security have been a major issue for the GOP nationally, helping get President Donald Trump elected to a new term. Trump promised mass deportations, and roundups began almost immediately after he took office.
There were 956 arrests on Sunday, the BBC reported. Colombia, which initially refused to accept incoming flights of people being deported, relented after Trump threatened to impose a tariff of 25% on all imports from the South American country.
Federal courts have blocked attempts in Iowa, Texas and Georgia to make it a crime to be in those states if a person is in the U.S. illegally.
During Monday’s hearing, immigrants — with legal status and without — said the bills filed this year represent an escalation of oppression.
“It is inhumane to say people should be hunted like a sport,” said Aura Velasquez, who has been a citizen for five years. “It would turn neighbors against neighbors and friends against each other.”
Immigration advocates argued that a community already fearful about having documentation to remain in the U.S. revoked would become more fearful.
After hearing that posters and signs were not allowed in the committee room, Kansas City resident Katelin Nott wrote messages on her arm Monday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).
“This bill fosters a climate of fear, where people feel unsafe engaging in even the most basic activities beyond going to work or school,” said Gabriella Cepeda, representing the Hispanic Law Students Association at St. Louis University. “They are terrified of being profiled or targeted for life in prison for simply existing in the state without documentation. It is not just extreme, it’s cruel and unusual punishment.”
The handful of supporters, representing law enforcement and a conservative Jewish group, said the state must protect itself from human trafficking and drug trafficking associated with lax border security.
“This legislation would simply give law enforcement another tool in the tool box to assist our federal partners,” Lewis County Sheriff David Parish said.
Last summer, a Missouri House interim committee studied the issue of crime associated with illegal immigration. The report, published Jan. 7, drew no conclusions and reported that many of the witnesses said they feared problems associated with border communities reaching Missouri.
The report did not estimate the number of undocumented immigrants in Missouri but said studies show a substantial economic impact.
Undocumented immigrants paid approximately $113 million in state taxes in 2022 but cannot use the public benefits those taxes support like Medicaid. Their economic activity supports 160,000 jobs and $19 billion in total economic activity, providing “real economic stability that benefits all Missourians,” the committee report stated.
Washington peppered Gregory and Carter with questions about whether the state should trade that economic support for a state free of undocumented immigrants.
“We have 77,000 illegal immigrants that we have here in Missouri,” Gregory said.
“So they should all be subject to this, because you’re saying that we should arrest them just because they’re here?” Washington asked.
“Yes,” Gregory replied.
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Missouri Bill Putting a Bounty on Undocumented Immigrants Faces Fierce Resistance
A controversial bill in Missouri that would put a bounty on undocumented immigrants has sparked fierce resistance from activists, lawmakers, and community members.
The proposed legislation, known as HB 294, would allow private citizens to sue anyone who employs or provides housing to undocumented immigrants. If the lawsuit is successful, the person who brought the lawsuit would receive a cash reward.
Proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary to crack down on illegal immigration and protect American jobs. However, opponents say that the bill is discriminatory, racist, and goes against the values of compassion and inclusivity.
Several organizations, including the ACLU and immigrant rights groups, have spoken out against the bill, calling it unconstitutional and inhumane. They argue that it would create a culture of fear and division within communities, and could lead to racial profiling and harassment of immigrants.
Lawmakers who oppose the bill have vowed to fight against it, and are working to block its passage in the Missouri legislature. They have urged their colleagues to reject the bill and instead focus on comprehensive immigration reform that is fair and just.
The fight over HB 294 is far from over, but opponents are determined to stand up for the rights and dignity of all immigrants, regardless of their legal status. The outcome of this battle will have far-reaching implications for the future of immigration policy in Missouri and beyond.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (First Alert 4) – A bill that would make it illegal for undocumented immigrants to travel to Missouri has been introduced by state lawmakers.
Missouri Senator David Gregory represents parts of St. Louis County and introduced the legislation. According to Bill 72, being in the state without documentation would be a felony punishable with a sentence of up to life in prison.
“This bill would make it a felony to be here in this state illegally. This bill will finally allow our police officers to arrest illegal immigrants,” Gregory said.
The bill goes on to say license bounty hunters can be paid for their capture and unauthorized immigrants will have to provide DNA samples once apprehended.
“We are going to create our own kind of state ICE program,” Gregory said.
Jessica Rivas Middleton’s family came to the United States from Mexico in the 1960s and 1970s. Many of her loved ones settled in St. Louis.
“This is absolutely an attack. We are being targeted,” Middleton said. “When my family came we literally occupied a whole block in the City of St. Louis. You cannot look at a person by the way that they dress or their skin tone.”
“If that was the case so many would be in trouble. I would be in trouble,“ she said.
Middleton and her parents are American citizens. However, they are disappointed that many others once in their position are being prevented from achieving the American dream.
“It saddens my family because it’s an injustice and they want everyone to be able to live in peace,” she said.
Democrats argued against Bill 72 in Jefferson City on Monday.
“It was sad that it was brought this way to the House,” State Rep. Del Taylor said. “The immigrants are a vital component to our community. They are working in our fields, they’re working in our health care, they’re working in our restaurants.”
Bill 58 also has been introduced in the state senate. The proposed bill would allow Missouri to assist in securing the United States-Mexico border.
Advocates for immigration plan to travel to the Capitol in February to testify against both bills in hopes they do not pass.
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On Tuesday, a controversial bill was passed in Missouri that has left many in the immigrant community feeling targeted and fearful. The bill, known as SB 1012, makes it a felony for illegal immigrants to come to the state of Missouri.
This new law is a stark departure from previous immigration policies in the state, which focused on cooperation with federal authorities but did not criminalize the act of simply being present in the state without proper documentation.
Advocates for the bill argue that it is necessary to protect the safety and security of Missouri residents, citing concerns about potential criminal activity and strain on public resources. However, opponents see it as an attack on immigrant communities and a violation of basic human rights.
The passage of SB 1012 has sparked outrage and fear among many immigrant families in Missouri. They worry about being targeted, separated from their loved ones, and facing harsh consequences simply for trying to build a better life for themselves and their children.
As we grapple with the implications of this new law, it is important to remember that immigrants are valuable members of our communities who contribute to our society in countless ways. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not criminalized for simply seeking a better future.
We must stand in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors and fight against policies that seek to dehumanize and criminalize them. We must work towards comprehensive immigration reform that upholds the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their immigration status. The fight is far from over, but together we can create a more just and inclusive society for all. #ImmigrantRights #NoToSB1012
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CHICAGO – State officials and immigrant advocates are not backing down on efforts to protect undocumented immigrants from President Donald Trump’s deportation surge that has led to “over 100” arrests in the Chicagoland area as of Tuesday.
During a Wednesday press conference, U.S. Reps. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Delia Ramirez, both Democrats who represent parts of the Chicago area, vowed to continue “working across every level of government” to protect Illinois immigrants.
“You are not alone,” Garcia said. “We stand by you and we will fight for you.”
Officials condemned what they described as the Trump administration’s efforts to criminalize “entire” immigrant communities. Immigrants contribute to the economy and commit crimes at a lower rate than American-born citizens, Garcia said. In 2022, immigrant households paid $579.1 billion in taxes, or nearly 1 in every 6 tax dollars in the U.S., according to an analysis of U.S. Census data by the American Immigration Council.
The Trump administration’s efforts are instilling fear and paralyzing communities based on a false narrative, they said. Trump is creating a “political theater” with cameras and television personalities tagging along on immigration enforcement activities, Garcia said.
“This is about optics, not public safety,” said Garcia, whose district counts a population where a third of residents are foreign-born. “It’s a deliberate strategy to disincentivize the public. It is a calculated cruelty.”
The Trump administration on Sunday launched “Operation Safeguard,” during which agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, ATF, DEA, CBP and U.S. Marshals Service descended on Chicago for “enhanced targeted operations.”
State officials on Wednesday vowed to ensure oversight of immigration enforcement operations and prevent detentions of undocumented immigrants who aren’t the initial target of ICE operations. The state representatives said they will closely monitor spending, contracts and operations as ICE aims to ramp up immigration detentions and arrests.
“I will be closely monitoring everything that is happening [with ICE],” said Ramirez, who is a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Rep. Delia Ramirez answers questions after a press conference meant to empower immigrant communities at Malcolm X College on the Near West Side on Jan. 29, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
An exact number of Chicago-area immigrants detained in targeted immigration efforts since the start of Operation Safeguard has not been provided, Garcia and Ramirez said.
It remains unclear whether ICE made “collateral arrests” in Chicago, detaining undocumented immigrants who aren’t the initial target of the targeted enforcement.
State officials warned that more undocumented immigrants without criminal convictions could be detained as authorities ramp up enforcement to meet detention quotas.
His wife told the Tribune the agents told her, “We have to take someone.”
“What we’re trying to do is get that final number because we know that while they said they have warrants for hundreds of people, it seems like that number was a very, very limited number,” Ramirez said.
On Saturday, the White House directed ICE to increase the number of people they arrest, from a few hundred per day to at least between 1,200 to 1,500, according to the Washington Post.
“It is impossible to reach the aspired numbers that have been established by these operatives, especially in Chicago today, because they don’t exist,” Garcia said.
Federal authorities, however, have limited capacity to detain millions of immigrants, as the Trump administration has promised to do, officials warned. ICE currently has the budget to detain only about 41,000 people, the AP reported.
At the same time, officials praised the efforts of immigrant advocates in Chicago, which “in the face of fear, are choosing hope and choosing action.”
“They have been supporting, informing and defending each other’s rights,” Ramirez said. “In the city of Chicago, we are proud that we love our rights and we understand the Constitution.”
On Monday night, Homan said in a CNN interview that outreach efforts by immigration advocates in Chicago and elsewhere — such as “Know Your Rights” workshops and pamphlets — are “making it very difficult” to arrest people.
Just before Sunday’s operations, four major Chicago-based immigrant rights groups filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, saying the planned raids violate human rights and are in retaliation against Chicago’s sanctuary city status.
Plaintiffs include Organized Communities Against Deportation, Brighton Park Community Council, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Raise the Floor Alliance.
In a response filed Wednesday, attorneys for the Justice Department asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit, calling it a “dangerous” political attack with no merit that could “undermine the ability of this country to govern itself.” U.S. District Judge John Kness has scheduled a motion hearing for Friday in Chicago.
Danae Kovac, executive director at HANA Center, speaks during a press conference meant to empower immigrant communities at Malcolm X College on the Near West Side on Jan. 29, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Efforts to educate immigrants about their rights, provide legal representation to those detained by immigration authorities and advocate for immigrants and undocumented immigrants will meanwhile continue, officials said.
“We know that there is real fear in the community right now, so we want to clearly state that every person, regardless of immigration status, has certain rights under the Constitution,” said Danae Kovac, executive director of HANA Center, a Chicago nonprofit serving Korean, Asian American and multiethnic immigrants.
Such rights include the right to remain silent when questioned or detained by law enforcement, the right not to open the door to immigration authorities who lack a warrant and the right to be represented by an attorney.
Nonprofit leaders have also since presented a smartphone app called “Know Your Rights 4 Immigrants,” available in several languages. The National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, or NAKACE, which is represented by HANA Center in Chicago, developed the app. It is available for iOS users and Android users.
“[The app] has the ability to read your rights out loud to an ICE or law enforcement agent and send a message to your emergency contact,” said Kovac, who added that it was downloaded 5,300 times in the past week.
Users can find Know Your Rights information and resources for immigrants and families in 17 languages, including family preparedness plans, a legal resources directory and resources to help people contact their consulate.
Charles Thrush and Mack Liederman contributed.
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In the face of ongoing threats to immigrant communities across the country, advocates and officials in Chicago are vowing to fight for the rights and protections of all residents, regardless of their immigration status. At a recent press conference, leaders from various organizations and government agencies came together to send a clear message: “You are not alone.”
With the current political climate creating a sense of fear and uncertainty for many immigrants, it is more important than ever for individuals and communities to stand in solidarity and support one another. The speakers at the press conference emphasized the need for unity and collaboration in order to push back against harmful policies and discrimination.
“We will not stand idly by while our immigrant neighbors are targeted and scapegoated,” said one advocate. “We will continue to fight for justice and equality for all, regardless of where they come from or what language they speak.”
Officials also reiterated their commitment to protecting immigrant communities and upholding their rights. “Chicago is a welcoming city, and we will not waver in our support for all residents, regardless of their immigration status,” said a representative from the city government. “We will work tirelessly to ensure that everyone feels safe and secure in our community.”
As the fight for immigrant rights continues, advocates and officials in Chicago are urging residents to stand up and speak out against injustice. “Together, we can make a difference and create a more inclusive and equitable society for all,” said one speaker. “We are stronger when we stand together, and we will not rest until every immigrant in our city feels valued and protected.”
In the face of adversity, it is clear that the voices of advocates and officials in Chicago are united in their commitment to fighting for the rights and dignity of all immigrants. With their unwavering support and dedication, residents can take solace in knowing that they are not alone in this struggle.
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Latest: Trump officials have moved quickly to expel migrants in two major Biden-era programs that allowed more than a million people to enter the country temporarily. Read more ››
President Trump has promised to deport millions of people who are living in the United States without permission. This population is commonly referred to as “undocumented,” “unauthorized” or “illegal.” But these terms are not entirely accurate. A significant number are in the country with temporary permissions — though many are set to expire during Mr. Trump’s term.
For the last decade, the best estimates put this population at around 11 million. But the number of people crossing U.S. borders reached a record level in 2022 before falling last year. More recent estimates put the number of people without legal status or with temporary protection from deportation at almost 14 million in 2024.
Many of them have permission to be here, at least for now.
“It’s true that immigration is high, but it’s hard to sort out who is an undocumented immigrant,” said Robert Warren, a demographer and the former statistics director at what was then the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. “Most of the public looks at everyone as undocumented — asylum-seekers, T.P.S., DACA — but it’s important to really figure out who is included.”
The New York Times compared estimates from severalresearchorganizations and the federal government, as well as more recent administrative data, to better understand who these immigrants are, how they got here, and which of them may be most vulnerable to deportation under Mr. Trump.
Those with permission fall under the protection of many different programs.
What is perhaps most surprising — or misleading — about terms like “undocumented” and “unauthorized” is that as many as 40 percent of the people in this group do have some current authorization to live or work legally in the United States, according to one estimate by FWD.us, an immigration advocacy group that hired a demographer to study the population.
In an effort to deter illegal crossings, former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. created a way for migrants to make an appointment to cross the southern border through a smartphone app called CBP One. The administration also created special pathways for people fleeing humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Ukraine and Venezuela and extended temporary protection from deportation for people from certain countries through a program known as Temporary Protected Status.
Upon taking office, Mr. Trump issued executive orders stating his desire to end those programs, and existing appointments made through the CBP One app were canceled.
Immigrants who enter the country through these programs were following the current rules, but Mr. Trump and other Republicans have attacked them and said the programs are illegal.
Millions more people have applied for asylum and are allowed to remain in the country while their cases wend through immigration court — though very few asylum claims are ultimately granted. An Obama-era program known as DACA protects from deportation about 540,000 undocumented people brought to the country as children.
The Biden administration also deferred deportation for other groups of people, like those who have applied for protection because they were victims of or witnesses to a crime.
Trump has limited power to immediately remove these groups.
Many of the permissions offering humanitarian relief are set to expire during the Trump administration, including some that Mr. Biden recently extended. If the incoming administration were to try to end these protections sooner, it would likely face lawsuits.
Mr. Trump on Monday issued executive orders ending humanitarian parole programs for people from specific countries, but it was unclear how those would affect the status of those who are already here.
Nor can Mr. Trump easily deport the more than 2.6 million people who are awaiting a hearing or a decision on an asylum claim. He could try to hire more immigration judges to decide these cases, but even with a significant infusion of new funds, it would take years to work through the backlog.
DACA is no longer accepting new applications, and the future of the program is uncertain because of a lawsuit filed by several Republican state attorneys general.
People can have more than one status, and many of these groups overlap.
Many people in the country with temporary permission fall under overlapping programs.
For example, the bulk of the people who arrived through one of the Biden-era humanitarian pathways were granted parole for two years. Many of them now also have Temporary Protected Status. Along with those who used the CBP One app to cross the southern border, they can also apply for asylum within the first year they are in the United States.
These immigrants come from all over the world.
Note: Not all countries are shown. Data as of 2022. The growth shown for select countries is based on administrative data.
More than half of those who are in the United States without authorization have been here for 10 years or more.
Mexicans remain by far the largest group of people living in the country without authorization, but their share has declined significantly since the 1990s, according to data from the Pew Research Center.
An influx of people fleeing humanitarian and economic crises came from Central America during Mr. Trump’s first term, and many of them are still in the country.
Mexican officials and other leaders in the region say they have not been able to meet with the incoming administration about its deportation plans.
Few immigrants can be swiftly removed. Even fewer are in custody.
Out of all those who are unauthorized, Mr. Trump has said the top priority for deportation will be criminals. There are around 655,000 noncitizens living in the U.S. with criminal convictions or pending charges, according to data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, though many of these charges are for minor offenses such as traffic violations.
There were about 39,000 immigrants in ICE custody at the end of December, near capacity for holding facilities.
The Trump administration may also focus its enforcement efforts on the nearly 1.4 million people whom an immigration judge has already ordered to be removed from the country.
Many of the rest have been living in the country for years and have developed ties to their communities, including having children born in the United States. It would require a significant amount of time and resources to locate and remove them.
Methodology and sources
There is no direct measure of the population living in the United States without authorization, as no major government survey collects information on immigration status.
In order to estimate the size of the unauthorized population, most researchers rely on a method that starts with survey data from the Census Bureau and then adjusts it using administrative records and other data to subtract the number of immigrants who are legally in the country from the total number of foreign-born residents.
Recent estimates of the unauthorized population
The number of people waiting for an asylum claim comes from the Pew Research Center as of 2023. The number of people with Temporary Protected Status comes from the Congressional Research Service as of September 2024. The number of DACA recipients comes from U.S.C.I.S. as of September 2024. Figures for the number of people who have entered through humanitarian parole from specific countries and through a CBP One appointment at the southern border are from C.B.P as of December 2024. Many people may be counted in more than one of these groups.
Figures for the number of ICE cases pending and paused are for the national docket and come from the agency’s annual report as of September 2024. The number of noncitizens with a criminal charge or conviction comes from ICE, as of Jan. 8.
All numbers are rounded.
In recent years, President Trump has made immigration a central issue of his administration, often calling for the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants. But who exactly are these millions of immigrants that Trump wants to deport?
These immigrants come from a variety of backgrounds and countries, but the majority are from Latin America, particularly Mexico and Central America. Many of them have come to the United States in search of better opportunities and a chance at a better life for themselves and their families.
Among these immigrants are also refugees and asylum seekers fleeing violence, persecution, and poverty in their home countries. They come to the United States seeking safety and a chance to rebuild their lives, only to face the threat of deportation under Trump’s policies.
There are also immigrants who have lived in the United States for years, even decades, contributing to their communities and the economy. Many of them have children who are U.S. citizens and families who depend on them for support.
Trump’s efforts to deport millions of immigrants have sparked controversy and outrage, with critics arguing that his policies are cruel and inhumane. As the debate over immigration continues, it’s important to remember that behind the statistics and rhetoric are real people with stories, hopes, and dreams.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said federal immigration authorities were arresting the “worst of the worst” in raids targeting criminal illegal immigrants in the first week of the Trump administration.
Noem, who was confirmed Saturday, joined an immigration enforcement raid in New York City Tuesday morning in which officers picked up an alleged ringleader of the violent Tren de Aragua gang.
“We are picking up the worst of the worst in this country that are making our streets so dangerous,” Noem told Sean Hannity on “Hannity.” “The community is safer now. That’s the reality of it.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joins an ICE raid in New York City Tuesday. Noem said communities will be safer because of targeted raids that go after criminal illegal immigrants. (Department of Homeland Security)
Investigators said Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 25, is the same man caught on camera in a video showing heavily armed men kicking down an apartment door at an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado.
He was hiding out in New York City, authorities said.
The targeted raid against criminal illegal immigrants was “very specific,” Noem said. In an effort to combat crime, sanctuary city laws should be lifted, so authorities can better target and prosecute illegal immigrants who commit crimes, she added.
“We need mayors and governors partnering with us, but we will do our job regardless of that,” she said. “We will continue to go forward and identify those folks and get them out.
“Talking about the difference in some of these sanctuary cities, how they’re just released as soon as they come into our custody, not necessarily our custody, but the local governments’.”
A Venezuelan migrant arrested during an ICE raid early Jan. 28 was identified by the Department of Homeland Security as Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco. Zambrano-Pacheco was wanted by Aurora Police Department in Colorado and was allegedly one of the men who appeared in a viral security camera video from August 2024 who menaced an apartment building shortly before a fatal shooting.(City of Aurora, Colorado )
She added that immigration agents were happy “they finally get to do their job” and “finally get to get these dirtbags out of our country.”
Noem said she plans to accompany authorities to see what authorities need to better perform their jobs.
Noem said three times the number of criminal illegal immigrants were being arrested than under the Biden administration, and she said there were fewer encounters at the southern border.
The DEA New York Division participated in an immigration enforcement operation with other federal law enforcement partners, resulting in the arrest of one suspect on kidnapping, assault and burglary charges.(X/@DEANEWYORKDiv)
“We’ve sent a message clearly to the world: ‘Don’t come here. If you’re an illegal and if you’re dangerous, we have a target on you, and you will not be welcome and we will remove you’,” said Noem.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has praised the efforts of law enforcement in New York City after the recent arrest of criminal illegal immigrants. In a statement released today, Noem commended the NYPD for their dedication to keeping the city safe and removing dangerous individuals from the streets.
Noem emphasized the importance of enforcing immigration laws and removing criminal offenders from the country, stating that it is essential for public safety. She also expressed her support for the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and protect American citizens.
The governor’s comments come as a response to recent reports of violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants in New York City. Noem’s statement serves as a reminder of the importance of strong immigration enforcement in ensuring the safety and security of our communities.
As the debate over immigration continues to rage on, Governor Noem’s words stand as a testament to the need for strict enforcement of our nation’s laws. By cracking down on criminal illegal immigrants, we can help make our cities safer for all residents.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown seems to be happening so quickly, legislators and immigrant advocates are scrambling to blunt its impact here in Hawaii.
The local office of Homeland Security Investigations posted photos on social media of officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Drug Enforcement Administration arresting immigrants.
The arrestees were not identified by name and the office did not say how many were arrested, but Gary Singh, an attorney for a few of them, said they had prior removal orders and had been in hiding.
“Their top priorities right now is individuals with final removal order or they have criminal convictions,” Singh said. “Once they wrap that up, there will be many different stages of different categories, I believe.”
Liza Gill, president of the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrants Rights, said the photos and the high-profile military transport deportations are an effort to intimidate immigrants and appeal to Trump’s anti-immigration base.
“The whole purpose is to create fear, is to make people feel very afraid to come out of their homes, to go to school, to go to a doctor’s office,” she said, “and I think that this new federal administration wants to showcase them looking tough, and it looks tough.”
Sandy Ma, an attorney with nonprofit The Legal Clinic, urges concerned immigrants to call the coalition or her office at (808) 777-7071 for answers about their options and rights.
“This federal administration is to drum up fear and we want to allay that concern,” she said.
Ma’s organization is offering written guidance, including small red cards to help immigrants stand up for their rights if approached by law enforcement.
“So, first of all, if ICE comes knocking on their door, they do not have to let them in their door,” Ma said. “Everyone in this country whether they are in this country with documents or without documents have constitutional rights.”
“Always stay calm. Do not run,” Ma said. “Provide them with the red card. You can contact our office for red cards.”
Although the nationwide raids are frightening, advocates are urging immigrants without authorization and their families to go about their daily lives while lawmakers are drafting laws to prevent local law enforcement collaboration with immigration, and to block raids at schools, churches or hospitals.
Hawaii Sen. Karl Rhoads, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, points out that by enforcing local laws, Hawaii law enforcement is already helping find and lead to deportation of criminals.
He also doesn’t think that the Hawaii public is as supportive of mass deportation as other states.
“It’s better that people enter the country legally, but does it really make any sense to spend all this time and energy resources money on often breaking up families and sending back people who are otherwise just doing all the jobs the rest of us don’t want to do?” he said.
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
As crackdown begins in Hawaii, advocates urge immigrants to remain calm
As immigration enforcement ramps up in Hawaii, advocates are urging immigrants to remain calm and informed about their rights.
With recent reports of increased ICE raids and arrests, many immigrant communities are feeling fearful and uncertain about what the future holds. Advocates are reminding immigrants that they have rights, regardless of their immigration status, and that they should not be afraid to seek help and support.
It is important for immigrants to know that they have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions without a lawyer present. They also have the right to refuse entry to their home without a warrant signed by a judge. Advocates are encouraging immigrants to know their rights and to have a plan in place in case they or a loved one is detained.
In these uncertain times, it is crucial for immigrants to stay informed, stay connected to their communities, and seek out support from organizations and advocates who can help. By remaining calm and informed, immigrants can better protect themselves and their families in the face of increased immigration enforcement.
For more information and resources, immigrants are encouraged to reach out to local advocacy organizations and legal service providers. Together, we can support and protect our immigrant communities during this challenging time.
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Hawaii crackdown, immigrant advocacy, remaining calm, immigration rights, Hawaii immigration, immigrant support, Hawaii crackdown news, immigrant resources, Hawaii immigration updates, immigrant community support, Hawaii crackdown response
2007: Immigrant rights activist Elvira Arellano of Mexico defied a deportation order and took sanctuary for months in an apartment above the Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago. A new Trump administration policy no longer regards churches as “sensitive” areas where authorities should not pursue people in the country illegally. Arellano remains in the U.S.
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U.S. churches — once deemed off-limits to immigration authorities due to their “sensitive” status within communities — now face the prospect of federal agents arresting migrants within their walls, under a new Trump administration policy.
The new approach, which President Trump spoke of in a December interview, also applies to schools. The administration said it will trust agents to “use common sense” when enforcing immigration laws.
It’s an abrupt about-face for federal policies that had hewn much closer to decades and centuries of tradition. Migrants have long found support systems in houses of worship, including some churches that 40 years ago became sanctuaries for people facing deportation.
In the 1800s, U.S. churches gave safe harbor to enslaved people; during the Vietnam War, they sheltered people resisting the military draft.
Just last week, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, Mariann Budde, implored newly inaugurated President Trump to “have mercy” on immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. and residents who “may not be citizens or have proper documentation.”
A similar pattern spans back to the early years of Christianity, of churches offering people refuge.
“Really this idea that we should show compassion and mercy to people who are vulnerable is so fundamental to any Christian, to our Christian values, to our Christian sacred texts — and really to all faith traditions,” the Rev. Noel Andersen, national field director for the refugee support organization Church World Service, tells NPR.
U.S. churches formed a sanctuary movement
The new U.S. policy countermands a 2011 Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo, which told agents and officers not to arrest people in “sensitive locations” such as churches, schools, hospitals and public demonstrations unless a clear danger or other exceptions existed.
The memo’s fate had been uncertain under the previous Trump administration. In Trump’s first term, churches granted sanctuary to immigrants in the U.S. illegally — including one woman who lived in an Ohio church for two years.
2017: Jeanette Vizguerra, who came to the U.S. without immigration documents, walks with two of her children as they seek sanctuary at First Unitarian Church in Denver, Colo. Vizguerra, who had been working in the U.S. for some 20 years, moved into a room in the basement of the church as she faced immediate deportation. Today, she continues working as an activist in the U.S.
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In the 1980s, that same Tucson church, Southside Presbyterian, had been at the heart of a network of churches giving sanctuary to migrants from Central America who were under threat of deportation.
“Cold War politics brought U.S. support to repressive and violent regimes in Central America,” Filiz Garip, a sociologist at Princeton University, tells NPR. She adds that because the U.S. didn’t welcome people fleeing those regimes, “churches [and] synagogues declared themselves to be a sanctuary to refugees.”
Pastor recalls sanctuary movement’s spark
A pivotal moment came in July of 1980, when 13 Salvadorans died as a group of migrants entered the U.S. from Mexico. Southside Presbyterian’s minister, the Rev. John Fife, and other clergy were asked to help the survivors.
“For the first time I heard the extraordinary stories about the repression and the killings,” Fife told NPR in 2017. He and others helped the survivors find lawyers for asylum hearings.
“We’d take in people that had torture marks on their body, and doctors would testify, ‘Yeah, this guy’s been tortured in El Salvador,’ ” Fife said, “and the immigration judge would order him deported the next day.”
The Justice Department didn’t raid the churches helping migrants — but it mounted an undercover operation that resulted in felony charges.
“They infiltrated us with undercover agents pretending to be volunteers,” Fife said, adding that in court, a judge forbade the defendants from raising topics such as their religious faith, refugee laws, and conditions facing people in El Salvador and Guatemala.
2018: Members of the New Sanctuary Coalition hold a vigil and procession for Aura Hernandez, a mother from Guatemala taking sanctuary in a church in New York City. In 2022, Hernandez was granted status to stay in the U.S., putting her on a path to citizenship.
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Fife was convicted of conspiracy and transporting illegal aliens but was sentenced to parole rather than prison.
“Many people were able to apply for asylum eventually” in the years that followed, Andersen says, adding that policies such as the temporary protected status program that began in 1990 “were born out of the sanctuary movement.”
The TPS program allows people from countries designated as undergoing violent conflict, disasters, or other extreme conditions to gain work authorization and protection from deportation. In the first year of TPS, the U.S. granted the status to nationals of El Salvador; today, more than a dozen other countries are also on the list.
Churches often seen outside of official reach
The connection between religion and migration runs deep: Migrants from rural Mexico often ask their priests to bless their migration journeys, according to Garip. When they arrive in the U.S., she says, “the church is a key institution that makes newcomers feel welcome.”
Since Saint Toribio Romo was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, the Mexican priest has been widely recognized as the patron saint of immigrants.
And in the 1800s, churches served as vital links in the Underground Railroad that helped enslaved people elude authorities and migrate to free states.
Such practices were built upon centuries-old ideas that held that churches were sacred and protected spaces — and that a “sanctuary” could refer to a physical meeting space, as well as to a concept of safety and refuge. And while “Sanctuary Cities” are a modern matter of contention, the Hebrew Bible lists six “Cities of Refuge” for people seeking refuge “and includes the ‘alien’ or ‘sojourner’ (gēr) among those who can seek refuge in the cities,” according to a paper by John R. Spencer of John Carroll University in Ohio.
“Greek and Roman societies both held the concept of refuge and places of sanctuary,” she writes. “By the fourth century, the right to sanctuary was formalized among early Christians.”
It wasn’t until the 20th Century, Shapiro-Rieser writes, that states moved to claim the authority to enter churches at will.
Churches have long been recognized as sanctuaries for those seeking refuge and safety, including immigrants and other marginalized communities. In a recent article by NPR, the rich history of churches serving as safe havens for those in need is explored.
Throughout history, churches have played a crucial role in providing shelter, support, and protection to immigrants and other vulnerable populations. In times of persecution, war, or political unrest, churches have opened their doors to those seeking asylum and refuge, regardless of their background or status.
This tradition of offering sanctuary is deeply rooted in the principles of compassion, justice, and hospitality that are central to many faiths. Churches have often been at the forefront of advocating for the rights and dignity of immigrants, and have worked tirelessly to provide resources and support to those in need.
In today’s increasingly polarized and uncertain world, the role of churches as safe havens for immigrants and others is more important than ever. As governments around the world grapple with issues of migration and refugee resettlement, churches continue to stand as beacons of hope and solidarity for those in need.
The article highlights the stories of individuals and communities who have found solace and support in the embrace of churches, and underscores the importance of continuing to uphold the tradition of sanctuary for all who seek it.
In a time of heightened fear and division, churches offer a message of love, compassion, and inclusivity. They remind us that we are all interconnected, and that our shared humanity transcends borders and boundaries. As we navigate the complexities of immigration and displacement, let us look to churches as beacons of light and sources of strength for those in need.
The Trump administration is issuing a new round of heavy-handed measures that could rapidly deport immigrants who entered the United States through recently established legal pathways, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security memo obtained the New York Times.
The directive, signed by the acting homeland security secretary, Benjamine Huffman, grants Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officials unprecedented authority to expedite deportations for immigrants who entered the country with government authorization through two key Biden-era programs.
These programs, which have allowed more than a million immigrants to enter the country since 2023, had provided scheduling for migrants or asylum seekers through the government-run app CBP One or temporary legal status for up to two years through a parole program for certain countries.
The newly reported memo instructs Ice officials to identify and potentially rapidly deport immigrants who have been in the country for over a year and have not yet applied for asylum, in effect sidestepping traditional immigration court proceedings.
In no waste of time, Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, posted on X on Friday: “Deportation flights have begun,” accompanied by official pictures of people boarding a military-style aircraft.
Despite such flights being routine under successive administrations, the White House is promoting such images strongly and also deployed troops to the border late on Thursday, including US marines arriving in Boeing Osprey aircraft in California.
The developments come as so-called sanctuary cities like Chicago, Newark and Denver are experiencing direct impacts of the administration’s hardline immigration stance. In Newark, Mayor Ras Baraka condemned a small-scale local Ice raid on Thursday that he claimed resulted in the detention of both undocumented residents and citizens – including a US military veteran.
And Denver’s mayor, Mike Johnston, told CNN the city would cooperate with Ice to deport “violent criminals”, but pushed back against arrests in schools and churches.
A DHS spokesperson defended the new policies, writing in a statement that “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” and that the administration “trusts law enforcement to use common sense”.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has already challenged the policy in federal court, with the senior staff attorney Anand Balakrishnan characterizing the approach as a “mass deportation agenda” that circumvents constitutional due process.
Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, has been vocal in his opposition to the immigration programs of the last administration, previously criticizing the admission of immigrants from what he termed “failed states”.
Thousands who had received or were waiting for CBP One appointments south of the border were left devastated this week after the app was abruptly shut down moments after Trump was sworn in, while those already in the country using the app and who were preparing to apply for asylum may now be in the line of fire.
Later on Friday, the Trump administration followed up, announcing that it was expanding a fast-track deportation authority nationwide, allowing immigration officers to deport people without appearing before a judge.
The administration said it was expanding the use of “expedited removal” authority so it can be used across the country, in a notice in the Federal Register outlining the new rules.
“Expedited removal” gives enforcement agencies broad authority to deport people without requiring them to appear before an immigration judge. There are limited exceptions, including if they express fear of returning home and pass an initial screening interview for asylum.
Critics have said there is too much risk that people who have the right to be in the country will be mistakenly swept up by agents and officers and that not enough is done to protect immigrants who have genuine reason to fear being sent home.
The powers were created under a 1996 law. But these powers were not widely used until 2004, when homeland security said it would use expedited removal authority for people arrested within two weeks of entering the US by land and caught within 100 miles of the border. That meant it was used mostly against immigrants recently arrived in the country.
In the notice on Friday the administration said the authority could be used across the country and would go into effect immediately.
The notice said the person put into expedited removal “bears the affirmative burden to show to the satisfaction of an immigration officer” that they have the right to be in the US.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
The Trump administration has granted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the power to deport immigrants who came to the United States legally under the Biden administration. This move is part of the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to crack down on immigration and enforce stricter policies at the border.
This decision has raised concerns among immigrant rights advocates who argue that it is unfair to target individuals who followed the legal process to come to the United States. Many fear that this could lead to increased deportations of immigrants who have been living in the country for years or have established roots here.
The Trump administration has been vocal about their stance on immigration, with President Trump often emphasizing the need for stronger border security and stricter immigration policies. This latest move is seen as a continuation of those efforts and is likely to have a significant impact on immigrant communities across the country.
As the debate over immigration continues to rage on, it is clear that the Trump administration is determined to take a hardline approach on the issue. The decision to give ICE the power to deport immigrants who came legally under the Biden administration is just the latest example of this ongoing crackdown.
Matthew Barton, a Mississippi district attorney, is proposing a bill that would pay bounty hunters for assistance in deporting illegal immigrants.
Under the terms of House Bill 1484, the state would create the Mississippi Illegal Alien Certified Bounty Hunter Program, which would pay a $1,000 reward to registered bounty hunters for each successful deportation they facilitate.
“This legislation is about keeping Mississippi communities safe,” said Republican state Rep. Justin Keen, who authored the bill.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released this image Friday, writing on X that “deportation flights have begun.” A Mississippi lawmaker is proposing paying bounty hunters to help deport illegal immigrants. (White House)
“We’ve seen firsthand the danger posed by bad actors and violent criminals who enter this country illegally, like the innocent life of Laken Riley,” he added. “President Trump’s administration has made it clear that deporting illegal immigrants is a priority, and we are proud to do our part here in Mississippi to help support his agenda and protect our citizens.”
Funding for the proposed program would come from the general assembly and be administered by the state treasurer.
The intention, Keen said, is to encourage collaboration between law enforcement and private citizens in identifying illegal immigrants in the state. It would also alleviate financial burdens on Mississippi taxpayers, who bear the costs of illegal immigration, a press release states.
ICE and ERO officers detaining one of 216 illegal immigrants who have been convicted of drug dealing or drug possession. Around 1.4 million illegal immigrants in the United States have deportation orders against them, a U.S. official said. (Todd Packard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) )
The bill comes as the Trump administration continues to tout tougher policies to combat illegal migration into the United States, as well as crime. Federal immigration authorities have made hundreds of arrests this week of illegal immigrants with criminal histories.
“When President Trump took office this week, he immediately recognized the emergency at our borders, rolling out executive orders to combat illegal immigration and cartels,” DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton said in a statement. “This legislation builds upon that foundation, empowering local leaders and communities to support federal efforts in protecting our citizens.”
“Legal immigration is a cornerstone of America, and we must ensure that our borders are secure and that the safety of Mississippians comes first,” Barton continued.
Recently, a Mississippi lawmaker has proposed a controversial new bill that would pay bounty hunters for assisting in the deportation of illegal immigrants. The bill, which has sparked heated debate among politicians and citizens alike, aims to incentivize individuals to help enforce immigration laws and crack down on undocumented individuals living in the state.
Under the proposed legislation, bounty hunters would receive a monetary reward for each illegal immigrant they successfully locate and turn over to immigration authorities. Supporters of the bill argue that this would help alleviate the burden on law enforcement agencies and ensure that immigration laws are being enforced effectively.
However, critics have raised concerns about the potential for abuse and exploitation under such a system. They argue that paying individuals to hunt down and deport immigrants could lead to racial profiling and violations of civil rights.
As the debate continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether this controversial bill will gain traction and become law in Mississippi. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
