WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration arrested more than 120 immigrants during two days of raids targeting Central American families who came to the country illegally since 2014. The arrests of immigrants who had been ordered out of the country prompted protests from immigration advocates and lawmakers who have said the enforcement harms families and is a dangerous precedent.
A look at what happened and who was targeted.
WHAT DID IMMIGRATION AGENTS DO?
Starting Jan. 2, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents went looking for immigrants who had illegally crossed the border with their families since May 2014 and had been ordered out of the country by a judge. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said immigration agents sought out people who had “exhausted all appropriate legal remedies.”
After two days of raids, 121 people from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico were arrested. Arrests were made primarily in Texas, Georgia and North Carolina. To date, 77 people from Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico have been sent home. The remaining 44 people are fighting their deportation orders.