Trump Expands ICE Deportations Targeting Noncitizen Veterans and Residents

President Donald Trump has accelerated federal immigration enforcement during his second term, prioritizing the deportation of undocumented immigrants regardless of their prior service to the United States. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increased the detention of noncitizen military veterans and their families, with advocates noting that military service is no longer treated as a mitigating factor in enforcement decisions. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that military service does not automatically grant lawful status or exempt individuals from immigration laws.

In Oklahoma, the administration has expanded 287(g) agreements, which deputize local law enforcement to perform immigration duties. Under Governor Kevin Stitt's Operation Guardian, the number of participating agencies grew from 30 to 77 since March. These efforts have resulted in the deportation of long-term residents, including a Mexican contractor in Oklahoma City and the detention of a Russian national at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas.

To oversee these operations, Trump appointed Markwayne Mullin to the Department of Homeland Security and nominated Lance Schroyer to lead ICE. While officials claim the program targets criminals, data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse indicates that 70% of ICE detainees as of April had no criminal record.