Trump has mobilized ICE and enlisted agents from various federal agencies to carry out raids targeting illegal immigrants, focusing on what he calls “the worst of the worst” across the nation. The White House shared a Valentine’s Day card on X this past Friday, featuring stern images of Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan, accompanied by a coldly-worded message: “Roses are red, violets are blue, come here illegally, and we’ll deport you.”
While the card, adorned with pink hearts, may seem lighthearted, it clearly reflects Trump’s aggressive stance on illegal immigration as part of his broader strategy for mass deportations and border control.
The administration has taken steps to create additional detention space, as ICE facilities have reached full capacity, even resorting to housing migrants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In the first 18 days of this operation, federal authorities made an impressive 11,000 arrests of individuals at large — already a third of the total arrests made last year under former President Joe Biden, based on internal data. At this pace, the U.S. could see the lowest monthly border crossings in over 25 years, potentially reaching levels not seen in nearly 60 years. As a result, Border Patrol agents are apprehending approximately 359 illegal migrants daily along the southern border, marking a more than 90% decrease from February 2024.
Additionally, Trump pressured Mexico to send 10,000 soldiers to its side of the border after threatening to implement a sweeping 25% tariff. Illegal border crossings have plummeted to their lowest levels in decades this month, thanks to Trump’s actions that ended the Biden administration’s “catch and release” policy and the deployment of thousands of additional troops.