US: 630 arrested as Trump federal takeover escalates

630 people have been arrested in the US in line with the Trump administration’s federal takeover of the US capital, as reported by Middle East Eye. This was announced by US Attorney General Pam Bondi on August 21st, who has also said that these arrests were made in only a 10-day period. Local news station ABC7 was told by the White House that just under half of those arrested were undocumented immigrants.

This has sparked controversy on social media, as videos have circulated in which masked agents in bulletproof vests with only “police” written on the back are shown ambushing people. Several agents have been videoed to tackle people on the ground, who scream for help. Many of the people arrested do not speak English, whilst the agents do not clarify why they are stopping, searching, or arresting them. They notably do not identify themselves. US citizens now worry they will be racially profiled and harassed.

Several immigrant families living in Washington DC have expressed concern over their safety, stating that they won’t be sending their children to school out of fear that they may be separated from their children. This is due to the Department of Homeland Security pushing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Investigations (HSI) agents to meet quotas for deportations and arrests.

US President Donald Trump has even announced that he will be out on patrol with these federal agents, as well as members of the National Guard that he has ordered into the city. He claims that the operation is a bid to reduce the crime rate. Trump said on August 21st that, “I’m going to be going out tonight, I think.” He added, “with the police, and with the military, of course.”

The National Guard has deployed 2,400 personnel to Washington, with another 700 members on their way from states led by Republican governors in support of President Trump. The National Guard cannot make arrests, and have been slammed by critics for using their soldiers in a performative role that is costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

US citizens have expressed their viewpoints by coming together in immigration protests, sparked by this wave of arrests. 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed to LA by Trump on June 10th following such protests. In regards to the protesters, Trump said “they would be hit harder than they have ever been hit before.” He had also signed an executive order on June 5th that reintroduced sweeping immigration bans on 19 countries due to national security concerns, which will limit migration.

Middle East Eye, Maghrebi.org