The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a strong statement on their official X account this past Saturday, asserting that undocumented immigrants have no place in the country and announcing the deportation of individuals with severe criminal records.
"Undocumented immigrants do not belong in our nation, and we are deporting them. Thanks to the brave men and women of ICE, these murderers, drunk drivers, sex offenders, and gun traffickers have been removed," the DHS declared in the post.
Highlighted Deportation Cases
The thread highlighted two specific cases. Ramón Gregorio Herrera-Ruiz, a Guatemalan citizen deported on August 4, had convictions for homicide, three counts of driving under the influence, and driving without a license, as well as arrests for obstructing police.
The second case involved Jorge Martínez-Guerrero, a Mexican citizen also deported on August 4, who had been convicted of manslaughter and illegal reentry into the U.S.
Campaign for Security
This announcement is part of the "Make America Safe Again" campaign led by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, which has been active since the start of Trump's second administration. The strategy includes weekly releases of names, photos, and crime details of deportees, along with the public platform WOW.DHS.gov, which now lists over 40,000 profiles of irregular immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
Deportations and Impact
Just two days earlier, on August 13, the DHS issued a statement about deporting criminals, including individuals convicted of voluntary manslaughter, attempted murder, and assault, under the motto "deporting illegal immigrants saves lives."
The global numbers underscore the scope of the operation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported 356,389 people in the fiscal year 2026 up to the end of July, nearing the record high of 438,421 deportations set in 2013.
Currently, 60% of those detained by ICE have criminal records. In June, ICE recorded its highest number of arrests since the start of Trump's second administration: 39,563 arrests solely by ICE, and 43,138 in collaboration with Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The Cuban Context
Since January 2025, the administration has conducted approximately 3,000 deportation flights, expelling nearly 900,000 immigrants. The situation is particularly dire for Cubans: more than 42,000 have final deportation orders pending in the U.S., and at least 29,000 have criminal records.
In June 2026 alone, over 1,600 Cubans received new deportation orders. ICE aims to deport one million people during the current and next fiscal years, more than doubling the roughly 442,000 deportations from the previous period.
Deportation Policies and Their Effects
What is the "Make America Safe Again" campaign?
The "Make America Safe Again" campaign is an initiative led by the Department of Homeland Security, focusing on deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records to enhance national security.
How many undocumented immigrants has ICE deported in the fiscal year 2026?
ICE has deported 356,389 undocumented immigrants in fiscal year 2026 up to the end of July.
Why is the situation critical for Cuban immigrants?
The situation is critical for Cuban immigrants because over 42,000 have pending final deportation orders in the U.S., and many have criminal records.