Trump 2.0 Targets New Records in Immigration Prosecutions

Key Takeaways

• ICE arrested 66,463 undocumented immigrants in first 100 days of 2025, a record enforcement surge.
• Border apprehensions dropped 94% from February 2024 to February 2025, reaching historic lows.
• 444 new 287(g) agreements signed with local police since January 20, 2025, enhancing local enforcement.

President Trump’s second term has brought a dramatic shift in the United States 🇺🇸 immigration landscape. In just the first 100 days since January 20, 2025, the country has seen record-breaking numbers in immigration prosecutions, arrests, and removals. These changes are not only reshaping how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies operate but are also having deep effects on immigrant communities, legal systems, and public opinion across the nation.

Unprecedented Surge in Immigration Enforcement

Who is affected?
Undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, Dreamers, and even some U.S. citizen children are facing the direct impact of these new policies.

What is happening?
ICE has arrested 66,463 undocumented immigrants and removed 65,682 people in the first 100 days of 2025. Among those removed were 2,288 gang members and nearly 1,330 individuals accused or convicted of sex offenses. These numbers represent a sharp increase compared to previous years.

When did this start?
The escalation began immediately after President Trump returned to office on January 20, 2025, following a series of executive orders that reversed many of the previous administration’s policies.

Where is this taking place?
The changes are being felt nationwide, with a particular focus on the southern border and in cities and counties that have signed new enforcement agreements with ICE.

Why is this happening?
The administration says the goal is to strengthen national security, uphold the rule of law, and reduce illegal immigration. Supporters argue that these steps are necessary to protect the country and its borders.

How are these changes being carried out?
Through a combination of new executive orders, expanded partnerships with local law enforcement, and the use of military and rarely used legal powers, the administration is pushing for faster and broader enforcement.

Record Numbers: Arrests, Removals, and Prosecutions

The numbers tell a clear story of escalation:

• ICE arrests (first 100 days, 2025): 66,463
• ICE removals (first 100 days, 2025): 65,682
• Immigration prosecutions (March 2025): 4,550 (up 36.6% from February)
• Illegal entry prosecutions (March 2025): 1,660 (double the previous month)
• Illegal reentry prosecutions (March 2025): 2,482 (up by 420 cases)

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these figures mark one of the fastest paces of immigration enforcement in recent U.S. history. While the focus is on criminal arrests and removals, the sharp rise in immigration prosecutions is also drawing attention from legal experts and advocacy groups.

Border Apprehensions Drop to Historic Lows

While enforcement inside the country is up, border apprehensions have dropped sharply. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported a 94% decrease in southwest border apprehensions from February 2024 to February 2025. Daily averages have fallen to under 300 apprehensions per day, a level not seen in decades.

CBP Acting Commissioner Pete Flores credits the drop to new executive orders and increased patrols. However, critics argue that the decrease is also due to new policies that make it much harder for people to seek asylum or other forms of protection at the border.

Expansion of Local-Federal Enforcement Partnerships

A key part of the new enforcement strategy is the rapid growth of 287(g) agreements. These are formal partnerships between ICE and local police, allowing local officers to help enforce federal immigration laws.

• 444 new 287(g) agreements have been signed since January 20, 2025
• 579 total agreements are now in place across the country

ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons has praised these partnerships, saying they help target “criminal illegal aliens” and make communities safer. But immigrant rights groups warn that these agreements can lead to racial profiling, family separation, and a climate of fear in immigrant neighborhoods.

For more information about 287(g) agreements and their impact, readers can visit the official ICE 287(g) Program page.

Executive Orders and Policy Shifts

President Trump’s new executive orders have changed the rules for almost every part of the immigration system:

• Rescinded Biden-era protections: Many policies that protected families and vulnerable groups have been rolled back.
• Dismantled the family reunification task force: Efforts to bring separated families back together have ended.
• New enforcement priorities: The focus is now on rapid removal and border closure.
• “Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion Proclamation”: This order aims to repel undocumented migrants at the southern border and bars those who enter without inspection from seeking asylum or other immigration benefits.

These changes have made it much harder for people to apply for asylum or other forms of relief, especially if they cross the border between official ports of entry.

Asylum and Humanitarian Relief Severely Restricted

The new rules have almost shut the door on asylum seekers:

• Most are barred from applying if they cross between ports of entry.
• Those who do present at ports face strict new requirements for documents and background checks.
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is being ended for nearly 700,000 immigrants.
• Protections for Dreamers and other vulnerable groups are being eliminated.

Many people who have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for years, built families, and contributed to their communities now face the threat of deportation, even if they have no criminal record.

Use of Military and Extreme Legal Authorities

In a move not seen in recent history, the administration is using the National Guard and invoking rarely used wartime powers to detain and deport people. Some are being sent to third countries or held in military facilities, often without the chance to see a judge or get legal help.

Civil rights groups like the ACLU have condemned these actions, warning that they violate basic rights and put people in danger, especially when they are sent to countries where they may face harm.

Step-by-Step: How the New Enforcement Model Works

1. Apprehension:
   Migrants are caught by CBP or ICE. Most are denied the chance to ask for asylum if they crossed between ports of entry.

2. Detention:
   Many are held in ICE or CBP custody. A growing number are sent to third countries or military facilities under new legal powers.

3. Prosecution:
   Those charged with illegal entry or reentry face federal prosecution. Most cases end quickly with convictions and removal orders.

4. Removal:
   ICE coordinates deportations, often within days, using expanded resources and help from state and local police.

5. Limited Relief:
   Options for humanitarian relief are now very limited. Many people do not have access to lawyers because of the speed of the process and the remote locations where they are held.

Impacts on Immigrant Communities

The effects of these policies are being felt in many ways:

• Mass Deportations and Family Separation:
  Rapid removals have led to families being split up, including cases where U.S. citizen children are left behind.

• Chilling Effect:
  Many immigrants are afraid to go to work, school, or even the doctor, fearing they could be arrested or deported.

• Reduced Access to Relief:
  With new barriers to asylum and the rollback of TPS and DACA, hundreds of thousands are at risk of being sent back to countries where they may face danger.

• Legal Challenges:
  Several of the new executive orders and enforcement actions are being challenged in court. Some have been blocked, at least temporarily, but the overall trend is toward more enforcement and fewer protections.

Multiple Perspectives: Supporters and Critics

Administration and Supporters:
President Trump and his team argue that these steps are needed to keep the country safe and enforce the law. They point to the drop in border apprehensions and the removal of people with criminal records as signs of success.

Civil Liberties and Immigrant Advocates:
Groups like the ACLU and the National Immigration Law Center warn that the new policies violate due process, separate families, and put people at risk. They say the use of military and extreme legal powers is unprecedented and dangerous.

Public Opinion:
The country is deeply divided. According to the Pew Research Center, most Republicans (79%) and a majority of Democrats (69%) believe deportations are up this year. More than half of Americans (56%) now support expanding the border wall.

Background: How Did We Get Here?

• Trump’s First Term (2017-2021):
  Marked by the “zero tolerance” policy, family separations, and record-high immigration prosecutions (nearly 120,000 in fiscal year 2019).

• COVID-19 Era:
  Prosecutions dropped as Title 42 expulsions replaced criminal processing at the border.

• Biden Administration (2021-2025):
  Shifted toward civil enforcement and humanitarian relief, which have now been largely reversed.

• Trump 2.0 (2025–):
  Characterized by rapid escalation of removals, prosecutions, and the use of extraordinary legal and military authorities.

Quantitative Data: By the Numbers

Expert Analysis

TRAC at Syracuse University:
While immigration prosecutions have surged, they are still below the all-time highs of Trump’s first term, when monthly prosecutions often exceeded 10,000. The main focus now is on civil arrests and removals, but criminal prosecutions are rising quickly.

Migration Policy Institute:
Only 29% of those in ICE detention as of February 2025 had criminal convictions. This means many people being detained and removed have no criminal record.

VisaVerge.com reports that the combination of increased immigration prosecutions, expanded ICE operations, and new legal authorities is creating a system where speed and volume are prioritized over individual rights and humanitarian concerns.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next?

• Further Expansion of Enforcement:
  Project 2025 calls for even broader use of state and local police, the end of major relief programs, and new laws to further restrict asylum and legal immigration.

• Legal Battles:
  Ongoing court challenges may limit or overturn some of the administration’s most aggressive measures, but the overall direction is toward more enforcement and fewer protections.

• Potential for Mass Deportations:
  If current trends continue, the United States 🇺🇸 could see deportation numbers surpassing previous records, with profound impacts on millions of immigrants and their families.

Practical Guidance and Resources

If you or someone you know is affected by these changes:

• Stay informed:
  Check official sources like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for updates.
• Seek legal help:
  Contact local immigrant rights groups or national organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) or the National Immigration Law Center.
• Know your rights:
  Even under new policies, everyone in the United States 🇺🇸 has certain legal rights. Learn about your rights and keep important documents in a safe place.

Conclusion

The first months of President Trump’s second term have brought sweeping changes to U.S. immigration policy. With record numbers of arrests, removals, and immigration prosecutions, the administration is moving quickly to reshape the system. While supporters say these steps are needed for security and order, critics warn of harm to families, communities, and the country’s values. As legal battles continue and new policies are rolled out, millions of people are watching closely, hoping for clarity and fairness in a time of great uncertainty.

Learn Today

ICE → U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, responsible for immigration enforcement and removals.
287(g) Agreements → Partnerships allowing local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws alongside ICE.
TPS → Temporary Protected Status, a humanitarian immigration relief protecting certain nationals from deportation.
Asylum → Protection granted to foreigners fleeing persecution or danger in their home countries.
Prosecutions → Legal proceedings initiated against individuals accused of violating immigration laws.

This Article in a Nutshell

President Trump’s second term has seen unprecedented immigration enforcement increases, with record ICE arrests and removals amid historic border apprehension lows, reshaping U.S. immigration policy with expanded local partnerships and legal restrictions.
— By VisaVerge.com