Trump Is Coming After Even Legal Immigrants
The Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration is facing increasing scrutiny as it has begun to ensnare citizens in its dragnet.
In a number of incidents, U.S. citizens have been detained by ICE agents who failed to properly verify their legal status. Even green card holders are no longer safe — pro-Palestine activist Mohsen Mahdawi was detained during a naturalization interview on April 14.
Now, in a recent report, 20-year-old legal U.S. resident Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was detained in what appears to be an error by ICE. Despite presenting evidence of his citizenship, Lopez-Gomez was held for several days.
“Homegrown criminals are next. I said homegrowns are next, the homegrowns. You gotta build about five more places”, said Trump.
Closer to home, ICE detained Abel Orozco, a father of two from Lyons, Illinois, in a process called “expedited removal”, despite Orozco having no criminal record. Orozco's wife, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and their children have been left behind as Orozco faces the threat of deportation. Orozco’s court hearing is scheduled for this month.
ICE Deports Children Who Are U.S. Citizens
Another consequence of the Trump administration's unforgiving immigration policies has been the deportation of U.S. citizen children alongside their undocumented parents.
On April 25, three U.S.-born children (aged two, four, and seven) were deported with their mothers to Honduras, even though they were born in the U.S. What’s worse is that the four-year-old child requires medication for cancer treatment, which was left behind.
The Trump administration defends the deportation of U.S. citizen children along with their parents, saying it wouldn’t be right to leave the children behind.
Even though it was implied that the citizen children could stay if the mothers wished, the mothers weren't given a choice, even though they had requested that the children be given to legal caregivers. Those requests were denied.
Trump’s First 100 Days: A Mixed Report on Immigration Policies
In the first 100 days of his second term, President Trump has implemented a series of aggressive policies designed to limit immigration. These measures have included attempts to restrict asylum seekers, ramping up ICE operations, and cutting funding to sanctuary cities.
The Trump administration has framed these actions as necessary to secure the U.S. border, but many critics argue that they've gone too far.
A key aspect of the administration’s immigration policy has been the expansion of ICE’s authority, which has led to an increase in deportations. The policies have sparked heated debates, with opponents arguing that they’re a direct attack on immigrant communities and supporters insisting that they're necessary for national security.
USCIS and ICE Thwart Nationwide Marriage Fraud Ring
USCIS and ICE have taken down a large-scale marriage fraud operation, resulting in multiple arrests and federal indictments.
Dubbed “Operation Bargain Brides”, the investigation was initiated back in April 2022 by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Maryland's Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, with support from USCIS and the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service.
The operation uncovered a network facilitating sham marriages between U.S. citizens and foreign nationals who paid for immigration benefits instead of pursuing the actual marriage-based green card process that requires applicants to prove a bona fide marriage.
On April 24, federal authorities arrested 10 individuals involved in the scheme. Additionally, a federal grand jury indicted four primary organizers:
- Ella Zuran (65), Tatiana Sigal (74), and Alexandra Tkach (41) from New York City, who orchestrated the fraudulent marriages.
- Shawnta Hopper (33) from Sicklerville, New Jersey, who recruited U.S. citizens to participate in the sham marriages.
The defendants face up to five years in federal prison if convicted. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
“Some marriages are made in heaven. Some are just made up”, said USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser.
