DHS Secretary Announces Weekend Deportation Record With 3500 Daily Arrests
"Over the weekend, we set two records of daily arrest in ICE and we averaged 3,500 individuals per day on Saturday and Sunday underneath the president's direction and ISIS's leadership."
About this episode
DHS Secretary Mullen appeared on Andrew's show to clarify the administration's position on Haitian Temporary Protected Status recipients and provide updates on escalating immigration enforcement operations. Mullen definitively stated that Haitian TPS recipients must leave the United States following a Supreme Court ruling, with limited exceptions for those who filed status changes before the ruling or are married to U.S. citizens. He emphasized that temporary status was never meant to be permanent and that individuals now classified as illegal immigrants must return to their home countries to reapply for legal entry. The secretary revealed that ICE set two enforcement records over the weekend, averaging 3,500 arrests per day on Saturday and Sunday. The administration is currently about 100,000 deportations below the entire 2025 total and is on pace to surpass that figure by mid-August, with a goal of potentially doubling last year's numbers. Mullen disclosed that over 1.3 million individuals have been either deported or self-deported since President Trump took office. He explained the administration's strategy of targeting the worst offenders first, noting that when arresting individuals with felony charges, they typically apprehend an additional 4.3 individuals in the process. The secretary also addressed asylum seekers who entered through Biden's CBP1 app, stating those cases must proceed through the court system, with the administration working with DOJ to hire 1,500 additional judges. However, many asylum seekers who fail to update their addresses or miss court dates are immediately subject to arrest for parole violations. Mullen acknowledged that while daily deportation numbers continue to increase, the administration expects to eventually hit a plateau as low-hanging fruit is exhausted and enforcement must dig deeper to find individuals in hiding.
Key takeaways
- DHS Secretary Mullen announced ICE set two enforcement records over one weekend, averaging 3,500 arrests per day on Saturday and Sunday.
- Haitian TPS recipients must leave the United States following Supreme Court ruling, with no legal path to remain unless married to U.S. citizens or filed status changes before the ruling.
- The administration has removed or facilitated self-deportation of over 1.3 million individuals since President Trump took office.
- DHS is on pace to surpass the entire 2025 deportation total by mid-August and aims to potentially double last year's numbers.
- When targeting individuals with felony charges, ICE typically arrests an additional 4.3 individuals in the process, increasing overall deportation numbers.
- Approximately 200,000 Haitians who entered through Biden's CBP1 app claiming asylum must have their cases heard in court before deportation.
- The administration is working with DOJ to hire 1,500 additional immigration judges to process asylum cases more quickly.