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The White House released images on Friday showing illegal immigrants lining up and boarding military planes as part of President Donald Trump’s expedited mass deportation plan.

Trump’s incoming border czar, Tom Homan, has pledged that the administration’s efforts will constitute the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.

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Historical Context 

To keep this in context using Federal data that tracks removals, returns and expulsions former President Barack Obama deported more people in each of his terms than Trump did. He deported over 3 million people.

Over the last four years, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported nearly 11 million border encounters nationwide—a number roughly equal to the population of North Carolina, the ninth most populous state in the U.S.

Monthly border encounters peaked in December 2023, with over 370,000 people apprehended. On average, CBP encountered nearly 12,000 individuals daily that month, equivalent to more than eight people per minute.

Most of those encountered were released into the U.S. with the condition that they appear for court hearings. It is rare for anyone to show up.

However, approximately 200,000 immigrant children were also reportedly “lost” after Homeland Security handed them over to unvetted sponsors who were not subject to background checks.

Mass Deportation Executive Orders 

On Monday, President Trump signed several executive orders addressing immigration and declared a national emergency at the southern border.

The day after Trump’s inauguration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) mobilized between 100 and 200 officers to execute the operation, which began on Tuesday.

Tom Homan revealed on Fox News that the U.S. Air Force is assisting ICE by providing four planes to remove up to 5,000 illegal immigrants. 

A flight departing from Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, transported deportees to Guatemala. By Thursday, the Trump administration had arrested 1,300 individuals, over 1,000 of whom were identified as criminals.

Arrests Targeting Criminals

ICE confirmed the arrests. And claimed the detainees included a suspected terrorist, members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and individuals convicted of sex crimes against minors.

The Tren de Aragua gang, a violent criminal group originating in Venezuela, has expanded its presence in the U.S. in recent years, partly due to former President Joe Biden’s more lenient border policies.

“We made this happen in a matter of three days,” Homan said. “They’re a welcome force multiplier for us, and it’s going to help us a great deal, especially on removal flights.”

Critics claim the result of the Biden administration policies is a big spike in crime and a human trafficking problem that even involves parentless children.

Sanctuary Cities Push Back

Some left-leaning mayors have opposed Trump’s deportation orders, emphasizing their cities’ status as “sanctuaries” for undocumented immigrants. 

Homan urged these mayors to cooperate with federal law enforcement, warning that sweeping immigration operations may be necessary to apprehend criminals if local governments refuse to assist. “I hope the sanctuary cities come around,” he said. “I hope... once they see that we really are concentrated on the criminals, they’ll come to us and sit at the table and work with us.”

Policy Changes and Community Impact

Acting DHS Secretary Benjamin Huffman has issued two directives to support Trump’s deportation plan. The first removes restrictions on ICE and CBP operations in sensitive locations such as schools and churches. The second directive ends broad humanitarian parole programs in favor of case-by-case reviews, limiting temporary migrant entry into the U.S.

Some churches in Chicago have canceled in-person services to protect congregants from potential immigration roundups. Meanwhile, immigrant advocacy groups have distributed flyers and held workshops to educate undocumented individuals about their rights.

On Sunday, Pope Francis criticized Trump’s mass deportation plans, calling them a “disgrace” during an appearance on the Italian talk show “Che Tempo Che Fa.”