Trump’s Migrant Crackdown Gives ICE More Power but Creates New Problems
President Trump’s latest immigration crackdown has given ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) record funding and more authority to make arrests. The agency has been ordered to boost daily arrests from around 300 under the previous administration to nearly 3,000 per day. This has led to mass detentions, including immigrants without criminal records.
But behind the scenes, this sudden expansion is putting huge pressure on ICE staff. Many officers are struggling with burnout, long working hours, and staff shortages. Some even say the push to meet quotas has caused mistakes, like detaining long-term legal residents and, in rare cases, U.S. citizens.
The aggressive tactics have also sparked public backlash, with viral videos of street raids and arrests raising questions about fairness and due process.
To cope, ICE has launched a massive recruitment drive and is pouring its bigger budget into hiring more officers. But experts warn that fixing staff morale and building trust will take time. Even with more money and power, the system could remain under strain for months or even years.
Impact:
- Rising political and social tensions in the U.S. could create uncertainty, which may put mild pressure on the U.S. dollar.
- Traders might move toward safe-haven currencies like the Japanese yen or Swiss franc.
