According to experts these illegal migrations occur due to changes in global migration patterns, downfall of various economies, instability in the third-world and a change of perception by immigrants.
Donald trump took his oath as the President of United States on January 20th 2025, becoming the 47th President of the United States. It’s been a year since then, and many observers do see a backsliding of democracy and its values in the United States.
During the Biden administration, illegal border crossings (US-Mexico border) had surged , with more than 7.2 million illegal immigrants entering the nation between 2021 and 2024. According to experts these illegal migrations occur due to changes in global migration patterns, downfall of various economies, instability in the third-world and a change of perception by immigrants. These issues signify problems mainly of border control, porous borders and unequal divide between first world and third world countries. During Donald Trump’s election campaign, he repeatedly promised to conduct mass deportations across the country of all illegal immigrants, in a way making the country free of illegal immigrants. A lot of these immigrants, especially from Latin American countries tend to be accused of Narco-terrorism. Narcotic terrorism was the same accusation , that the US government had put on the Venezuelan government in order to justify the sudden capture and extradition of President Nicolas Maduro.
Since the Republican Party has come to power, there has been a sharp decrease in illegal immigration from the southern borders. In a January 2026, the Brookings Institution report had stated that the United States had seen negative rates of immigration in 2025 for the first time which was estimated to be around -10,000 to -295,000 people. Since the last year, the overall handling of the immigration issue by the trump administration has received widespread criticism, condemnation and protests by many activists and fellow American citizens.
The ICE (The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is the main federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its main mission is said to conduct criminal investigation, enforce immigration laws and preserve national security. ICE was created as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 following the 9/11 attacks. Since the last year it has become a subject of controversy.
On Jan 7 2026, Central, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Reene Nicole Good was fatally shot by the ICE. She is said to have been shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Reene Nicole Good was a 37-year old US citizen, who was also an award winning poet. She was killed when Agent Ross is said to have shot her in her car. According to Good’s ex-husband, she had just dropped her 6-year old son to school before being encountered by ICE agents. This has happened amidst a deployement of over 2,000 ICE agents across the country by the Trump administration, in order to conduct various illegal immigrant crackdown . This operation is termed “operation metro surge” , its stated purpose is to apprehend illegal immigrants and deport them. This operation has led to the arrest of over 3,000 people.
Another incident was reported on 24 January when Alex Pretti , a 37-year old intensive care nurse was shot multiple times by the ICE . This incident took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota . Pretti was seen to be just filming ICE agents . He was then pepper sprayed and wrestled to the ground by several federal agents, with around six surrounding him as he was killed. Authorities alleged Pretti to have a firearm, justifying his killing and the video circulating does indicate so. But critics argue that it was his right, as the second amendment of US Constitution allows the right to bear firearms. Federal authorities have alleged that Pretti’s behavior was intimidating and he had taken out his gun from a holster, but video circulating clearly shows that the gun was just kept at the back of his pocket. This incident sparked widespread outrage against the ICE, Federal Agents and the current Trump Regime. These killings have happened just at the start of the year, Apart from these killings, the year 2025, was considered as “ICE’s “deadliest year, since two decades” according to a report by ‘The Guardian.’ 32 people have reported to have died in ICE custody, making ICE the most brutal federal task force in the United States as of now.
These events regarding the mass deportations and killings of not only illegal immigrants but, common US citizens is really a matter of concern as USA tends to project itself as the champion of democracy and democratic values. AmericanThis article is written by Satvik AVP , a student of Loyola Academy, Secunderabad, interning with Deccan Chronicle.
