Washington, Jun 05 (V7N) – In an unprecedented move, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more than 2,200 immigrants in a single day on Tuesday (June 3), marking the highest number of arrests in a 24-hour period in the agency’s history, according to a report by NBC News.

ICE sources revealed that the mass arrests were carried out as part of an aggressive new push to ramp up enforcement, following mounting pressure from the White House. Many of those arrested were reportedly enrolled in ICE’s "Alternatives to Detention" (ATD) program, which typically monitors undocumented immigrants deemed low-risk through ankle monitors, mobile apps, or mandatory check-ins.

In recent days, ICE has allegedly shifted tactics, with immigration lawyers reporting that some immigrants in the ATD program were summoned to ICE offices for routine or early-scheduled check-ins—only to be arrested upon arrival.

The operation appears to be driven by directives from White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, who, according to NBC News sources, warned ICE leadership last month that senior officials would be removed if the agency failed to reach a target of 3,000 arrests per day.

The move has sparked alarm among human rights advocates and immigration attorneys, who say it reflects an increasingly punitive approach toward non-violent immigrants already cooperating with authorities. Critics argue that the tactics undermine trust and could endanger families who have lived in the U.S. for years without incident.

ICE has not publicly confirmed the arrest figures or responded to questions about the tactics used, but the scale and coordination of the effort have raised concerns nationwide about the future of immigration enforcement under current policy directives.

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