ICE Arrests 308 Illegal Immigrants on Trump’s 1st Full Day in Office, Says Border Czar

Trump signed executive orders just hours after taking office on Jan. 20 to strengthen U.S. immigration and border security policy.

ICE Philadelphia conducts a worksite enforcement operation at a car wash and arrests seven individuals in Philadelphia on Jan. 28, 2025. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Getty Images

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made 308 arrests on Jan. 21, according to White House border czar Tom Homan.

“In the last twenty-four hours, ICE arrested over 308 serious criminals. Some of them were murderers. Some of them were rapists,” he said on Fox News.

“Some of them raped a child ... ICE is performing excellent right now out in the field, and they’re gonna continue every day,” he said.

The Epoch Times contacted ICE for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

President Donald Trump signed executive orders just hours after taking office on Jan. 20 to strengthen U.S. immigration and border security policy.

One of these orders included declaring a national emergency at the southern border. This allows for the military to be deployed there, for the border wall to be completed, and to dispatch unmanned aerial systems without restrictions to detect those entering the United States illegally.

Another one of Trump’s border-related actions was to reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy that requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico pending the adjudication of their asylum request in the United States.

Moreover, Trump ended the CBP One app that allowed those who crossed the border illegally to make an appointment at ports of entry.

One of his executive orders states: “It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens, particularly those aliens who threaten the safety or security of the American people. Further, it is the policy of the United States to achieve the total and efficient enforcement of those laws, including through lawful incentives and detention capabilities.”

The Trump administration lifted a policy that prohibited the apprehension of illegal immigrants at or near locations such as churches and schools.

“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens—including murderers and rapists—who have illegally come into our country,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a Jan. 21 statement.

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.