Trump Administration Claims Over "300,000 Migrants" Arrested

U.S. authorities have arrested "more than 300,000 migrants" in irregular status during the first six months of President Donald Trump's administration, the White House announced Tuesday.

Since returning to power in January, the Republican president has implemented a strict immigration policy, including raids in courts, homes, and workplaces, sparking widespread protests.

Some NGOs have denounced conditions in migrant detention centers. A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report describes overcrowded cells, migrants sleeping on floors under neon lights kept on day and night, and a lack of basic hygiene.

During a White House press briefing Tuesday, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt highlighted the figures.

"More than 300,000 illegal immigrant criminals have been arrested within our country in the first six months of this administration," she stated.

"Nearly 70% of these arrests involve foreign offenders with criminal charges or prior convictions," she added.

The spokesperson also emphasized the decline in visa-less migrant crossings at U.S. borders.

In July, "illegal crossings have once again dropped to historic lows," she said.

According to data released Tuesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), authorities recorded "24,628 nationwide interdictions."

At the Mexico border, there were "4,601" crossings, a 24% decrease from the previous historic low in June (*6,070*) and a 92% drop compared to July 2024 (*56,400*).

"History was made, once again. The numbers don’t lie: this is the most secure border we’ve ever had," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated in a CBP release.

Trump has made it a priority to carry out a record number of removals of migrants in irregular status.

To facilitate this, Noem recently announced the elimination of age limits for joining U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On Tuesday, ICE announced in a statement that it had "officially received over 100,000 applications from patriotic Americans eager to join" its ranks to deport "foreign criminals."