U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested more than 10,000 individuals in the last five days, according to figures obtained from a Department of Homeland Security source. The surge in enforcement comes as the Supreme Court dealt a blow to the Trump administration's efforts to end birthright citizenship, upholding the long-standing policy that most children born in the United States automatically become citizens, even if their parents are in the country illegally.
The Supreme Court cited the Fourteenth Amendment in its decision, stating that children born in the U.S. to parents who are unlawfully or temporarily present are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and are citizens at birth. President Donald Trump criticized the ruling and urged Congress to amend the Constitution to abolish birthright citizenship, posting on Truth Social that lawmakers should start working on ending what he called an expensive and unfair policy.
A source familiar with ICE operations said the agency is currently ramping up enforcement using funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill, as the legislation approaches its one-year anniversary. DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated that a majority of those arrested are illegal migrants who have previously been charged or convicted of a crime, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists. Nearly 70% of ICE arrests involve individuals with criminal records, and more than 3 million illegal aliens have been deported so far, according to Bis.
As ICE increases its enforcement activities, organized protests have emerged across the country. In late May, demonstrators gathered at the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, leading to clashes between rioters and ICE agents alongside local law enforcement. A Fox News Digital investigation found that the protests were not spontaneous but rather the result of coordinated planning by a network of well-funded groups, including the ACLU, Indivisible, and the Democratic Socialists of America. These organizations collectively report annual revenues of about $825 million, roughly equal to Newark's annual budget.
Despite the organized resistance, ICE operations have continued. Bis emphasized the agency's commitment to enforcing immigration laws, stating that the message is clear: those who enter the country illegally will be found, arrested, and deported. The recent arrest figures highlight the administration's focus on immigration enforcement amid ongoing legal and political battles over citizenship policies.
