Immigration Arrests Continue After Trump Signals Possible Shift
President Donald Trump suggested after the midterm elections that his immigration crackdown may have gone too far and said he wanted to work with Democrats. But arrests continued in multiple states, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said deportations would go on, including on holidays and Election Day. Trump also named immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff hours after his comments about the policy.
In Los Angeles, immigration officers wearing face coverings and protective gear assembled near a hospital emergency-room entrance in a heavily Latino neighborhood. A Justice Department prosecutor said officers had brought a detainee there for medical care and that two people faced charges of attacking federal officers. The hospital said it did not take part in immigration enforcement.
In Alabama, brothers Luis and Carlos Orta-Santoro, both 19, were detained while driving back to college. Their relatives said the Venezuelan-born students had pending asylum applications and valid work permits. Homeland Security said they had overstayed after entering legally and would have their case heard by an immigration judge.
Other arrests included an Argentine couple with work permits who were detained at Phoenix airport while traveling to a funeral. In South Florida, an immigrant-rights advocate said she had received at least one daily call from someone detained since the election. Arrests were also reported in California, Michigan and Massachusetts.
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Keeps Going After Voters Reject GOP
Voters handed Democrats control of the next Congress, and Trump conceded that his immigration campaign might have gone too far. Yet arrests continued, while Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin made clear deportations would proceed even on holidays and Election Day. Trump’s appointment of hardliner Stephen Miller as chief of staff underscored the gap between his conciliatory words and the administration’s actions.
In Los Angeles, masked officers wearing protective gear assembled at a hospital emergency-room entrance. Federal officials said the officers had taken a detainee there to receive medical attention, while the hospital stressed that it does not participate in immigration enforcement. The scene drew residents and passersby; a Justice Department prosecutor said two people faced charges of attacking federal officers.
In Alabama, two 19-year-old Venezuelan brothers attending community college were detained on their drive back to school. Their family said they had pending asylum cases and valid work permits. Homeland Security said they had overstayed and would appear before an immigration judge.
An Argentine couple with work permits was also arrested at Phoenix airport while traveling to a funeral. These cases show the human stakes of a crackdown continuing despite voters’ clear rejection of the party that backs it.
Immigration Enforcement Continues Despite Trump’s Talk of Compromise
Trump indicated that his immigration campaign might have gone too far and expressed interest in working with Democrats after Republicans lost control of Congress. But the administration did not announce a change in enforcement: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said deportations would continue, and Trump appointed Stephen Miller, a leading architect of his hardline agenda, as chief of staff.
Federal officers in Los Angeles brought a detainee to a hospital for medical treatment, according to a Justice Department prosecutor. The department also said two people were taken into custody on suspicion of attacking officers. The hospital said it had no role in immigration enforcement, while officers’ presence outside its emergency entrance drew a crowd.
In Alabama, immigration authorities detained Venezuelan-born college students Luis and Carlos Orta-Santoro. Their family said the brothers had pending asylum applications and valid work permits. Homeland Security said they had entered legally but overstayed, and that an immigration judge would hear their case.
An Argentine couple with work permits was detained at Phoenix airport while traveling to a funeral. The cases illustrate that immigration enforcement has continued as the administration applies the law, even as Trump signals openness to discussions with Democrats.
Reported by ClickOnDetroit WDIV.
