WASHINGTON: Over 7,300 immigrants in the United States (US) were sent back home in handcuffs and shackles after the Department of Homeland Security began its mass deportation drive on the order of President Donald Trump.
The use of restraints during these deportations has drawn widespread condemnation, with critics arguing that it dehumanises individuals who are often fleeing violence or seeking better opportunities.
Besides, the condition in which these immigrants were flown back home has been questioned and so has the use of military planes to carry out this operation while the deportation drive itself has invited criticism, Firstpost reported.
Since President Trump took office and signed an executive order on immigration, joint teams of the Immigration Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other U.S. government agencies have arrested more than 10,000 illegal immigrants across the United States, The News reported.
Moreover, US Vice President JD Vance has confirmed that military aircraft and other means have been used to deport large numbers of people from Latin American countries such as Venezuela and Colombia.
In a TV interview, the vice president confirmed that in addition to such large-scale and historic deportations, President Trump has also set a target of arresting and deporting 1,800 illegal immigrants per day, which will continue until the end of President Trump’s operation against illegal immigrants.
Fear and Panic:
The intensity of Trump’s campaign against illegal immigrants has stirred a storm across the United States.
In the late hours of each night, joint teams of officers from the Department of Immigration, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and other departments set out to raid homes and businesses in various cities across the country, arresting and deporting illegal immigrants.
Although the Trump administration’s public stance is that it wants to provide a peaceful, crime-free environment and security to the American people by deporting illegal immigrants, the crackdown has created an atmosphere of fear and panic across the US.
Major cities like New York and Chicago are safe havens for illegal immigrants, but now these cities are also subject to fear and arrests.
Raids against illegal immigrants were also carried out in schools and churches, as per the U.S. media.
This reluctance to engage in everyday activities has led to a noticeable decline in the workforce in certain industries, especially those that rely heavily on immigrant labour, such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality.
Additionally, due to fear of arrests, some illegal immigrants stopped going to work and sending their children to school, according to the U.S. media.
A few Pakistanis residing illegally in America were also arrested, as per the sources.
In California, less than 10 Pakistanis were arrested for being illegal immigrants. Over one million immigrants live in the US without legal status. Deportation orders have been given to 1.4 million immigrants without legal status.
Effects on socio-economic landscape
The mass deportation policy under President Trump’s administration will have several adverse effects on the U.S. socio-economic landscape.
Immigrants, particularly those without legal status, play a crucial role in several industries, such as agriculture, construction, hospitality, and food service.
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The mass deportations will lead to a significant loss of labour in these sectors, which often struggle to find native workers willing to take on low-wage, labour-intensive jobs.
This shortage can drive up wages in some industries, potentially raising costs for consumers.
Likewise, immigrants often contribute to the local economy by spending on housing, food, and other goods and services. The deportation policy will result in the displacement of workers, affecting local businesses and diminishing their customer base.
In areas heavily reliant on immigrant labour, businesses have had to scale back operations, which can lead to job losses for both immigrants and native workers.
Meanwhile, the fear of deportation has made some immigrants hesitant to seek medical care or enroll their children in schools, leading to a lack of access to essential services. This can negatively affect public health, as untreated conditions can spread in communities.
