The government of Donald Trump announced that it detained 20,000 undocumented immigrants in a single month, according to Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Kristi Noem. Noem highlighted a 627% increase in the average monthly arrests compared to the previous administration of Joe Biden, which, she claimed, only detained 33,000 immigrants in the whole of last year.
However, there are discrepancies in the numbers provided by Noem, as data from NBC television and Axios contradict her claims. According to NBC, in the last fiscal year, 113,431 undocumented immigrants were detained, and Axios reported that in November alone under the Biden administration, 21,130 migrants were detained.
Noem did not specify whether the detentions occurred at the border or across the country, nor did she clarify whether she was referring to the entire month of January or to other dates. She emphasized that the Trump administration is working to secure the border and deport foreign criminals who entered the country illegally.
Additionally, it has been announced that authorities plan to require the millions of undocumented migrants residing in the United States to register by providing their fingerprints. Those who do not comply could face more severe legal consequences, including fines, jail time, and even deportation. The measure aims to pressure undocumented individuals to leave the country voluntarily.
In a statement, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the message is clear: undocumented immigrants must leave now to have the chance to return and enjoy freedom in the United States. It is expected that parents of children under 14 years old will also enroll their children in the registry established by the government.
