Approximately 1.4 million illegal immigrants in the United States have been ordered to be deported, according to a U.S. official speaking to Fox News. These individuals have been directed to return to their home countries by federal immigration judges, but many remain in the U.S. despite these orders.
Of those, around 13,000 are currently held in custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while figures on how many are detained in local or state facilities were not immediately available.
The 1.4 million figure includes individuals whose immigration cases have already been decided, though some may still have options to appeal. These orders span multiple years and presidential administrations, with the number fluctuating as some immigrants are deported while others face new removal orders.
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to pursue mass deportations, with an initial focus on criminal immigrants, once he assumes office on January 20. In preparation, Texas has offered over 1,400 acres of land in the Rio Grande Valley to facilitate the deportation process.
In contrast, some cities are resisting these efforts. On Tuesday, Los Angeles city leaders voted to adopt a sanctuary city ordinance, prohibiting local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. This decision was followed by a vote from the Los Angeles Unified School District to also become a sanctuary district, which will prevent district employees from sharing students’ immigration status with authorities.
ICE has long criticized sanctuary cities for not assisting in the deportation of illegal immigrants, particularly those who reoffend or commit serious crimes after being released from local custody.
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- ‘People Are Terrified’: Immigration Lawyer Responds to President-Elect Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan
- Immigration Advocates Promise to Fight Trump’s Deportation Plans
