Trump White House Celebrates 100-Day Immigration Crackdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The White House marked President Donald Trump’s first 100 days by highlighting a 96% drop in illegal immigration and announcing the largest deportation operation in American history. ICE chief Tom Homan credited the sharp decline to Trump’s aggressive border security measures. Officials vow continued crackdowns on illegal immigration.
Trump White House Celebrates 100-Day Immigration Crackdown: Quick Looks
- White House touts major drop in illegal immigration under Trump.
- ICE chief Tom Homan says known got-aways down 96%.
- Operation Tidal Wave: largest deportation effort in U.S. history underway.
- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says ICE officers “finally doing their jobs.”
- Trump administration invokes Alien Enemies Act to deport gang members.
- High-profile deportations target Venezuelan gang members at Guantánamo.
- New executive orders aim to bolster deportations and border security.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to brief on related measures Tuesday.
Trump White House Celebrates 100-Day Immigration Crackdown
Deep Look
White House Marks 100 Days With Sharp Drop in Illegal Immigration, Launches Historic Deportation Drive
WASHINGTON — The White House kicked off President Donald Trump’s 100-day milestone Monday by celebrating a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration, which officials say has led to a 96% reduction in known illegal border crossings.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chief Tom Homan joined Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt for an early morning briefing, heralding what they described as the largest deportation operation in U.S. history under “Operation Tidal Wave.”
“After four years of being vilified by the Biden-Harris administration, our heroic ICE officers can finally do their jobs,” Leavitt declared.
A Return to Border Security
Homan, a veteran of six presidential administrations, accused President Biden of intentionally compromising U.S. border security.
“Every president I’ve ever worked for took border security seriously — until Joe Biden,” Homan said. “He’s the first president in U.S. history who unsecured the border on purpose.”
He praised Trump’s aggressive enforcement measures, citing not just the dramatic reduction in border crossings, but the broader humanitarian benefits — fewer women assaulted by cartels, fewer children trafficked, and less fentanyl flowing into the U.S.
“When 96% fewer people are coming, how many young Americans are we saving from fentanyl deaths?” Homan asked.
Operation Tidal Wave: A Record Deportation Campaign
Operation Tidal Wave, launched shortly after Trump’s inauguration, is now the largest deportation initiative in American history, Leavitt and Homan said. Though officials did not update deportation numbers Monday, the administration previously announced over 100,000 illegal immigrants had been removed by early April.
Leavitt said the current efforts represent “only the beginning” and promised “more to come” as Trump’s immigration enforcement policies ramp up.
New Legal Strategies: Alien Enemies Act Invoked
The Trump administration has also revived the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime immigration statute, to facilitate expedited deportations.
In a high-profile move Sunday night, the administration deported 17 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador from Guantánamo Bay under Title 8 provisions.
While the use of the Alien Enemies Act faces legal challenges, administration officials insist it remains a vital tool in removing dangerous individuals who threaten national security.
Public Support for Trump’s Immigration Agenda
Polls continue to show that Trump’s hardline immigration stance remains widely popular among voters. Monday’s press conference is the first in a week-long series of morning briefings aimed at showcasing Trump’s early-term achievements.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to join Leavitt on Tuesday to discuss economic initiatives related to border security and the crackdown on smuggling operations.
Moving Forward
With illegal crossings reportedly at historic lows and deportation efforts scaling up, Trump officials argue the administration is restoring the rule of law and reinforcing national sovereignty.
“We’re not just enforcing immigration law — we’re protecting American communities from criminal elements who threaten our way of life,” Leavitt said.
The administration remains committed to reshaping U.S. immigration enforcement policies dramatically over the next several years — and Operation Tidal Wave is just the beginning.
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