They might have snared more, but officers scuttled some planned arrests because they feared they were being “surveilled” and were worried about sparking violent outbursts, acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Matthew Albence said Tuesday.
He said the operation is continuing and in the early stages, with 2,100 potential targets on the list.
Still, the 35 arrests were far fewer than the “millions” President Trump promised last month when he first raised the matter on Twitter. He said it was time to get tough on migrants who came to the U.S. as part of the border surge, had their day in court and were defying deportation orders by an immigration judge.
Immigrant rights activists took to Twitter to cheer the low numbers, and Trump supporters said 35 arrests aren’t nearly what they were expecting.
Mr. Albence, while offering explanations for the slow pace, suggested it will pick up.
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05.10.2025