US Begins Raid on Illegal Immigrants

The Obama administration began detaining Central American immigrants who have evaded deportation orders this weekend. The US government launched a crackdown on illegal immigrants following a surge of migrants trying to cross the border.

In a report with Press TV, the nationwide crackdown began over the weekend, amidst much criticism from advocates of immigration. There were reports of raids in Georgia and Texas, immigration attorneys told the news agency.

The large-scale operation is being carried out by agents with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Administration officials have said in an earlier report last December, that they will be stepping up deportations for those who have already been ordered to leave the country.

Advocates of immigration have already questioned the operation. They were enraged by the current administration's response and felt that the administration was treating the immigrants as if they were criminals. The advocates have also dragged the government into a legal battle that has turned messy over the detention of immigrant families. The courts have already sided with the advocates and have ordered the government to release the detained families. 

According to the advocates, the new deportation plan is the same political bind that the Obama Administration had last year and its inaction has gained criticism from the right over "border security," while action has created criticism from the left. 

It is reported that over 100,000 families have entered the United States via Mexico since 2014. Many of these migrants come from El Salvador and Honduras. A great number of these migrants have come to escape poverty and growing violence.

Some of these Central American families have been granted asylum, while many have not because they have lost their case at an immigration court. Many families have stayed in the country, long after being told to leave. These numbers are said to have reached 15,000. 

The LA Times reported that six Central American families detained in the raids in Texas are to be brought to the South Texas Family Residential Center. Many advocates for immigration said that they will try to contact the families being detained in the detention centers to make sure that they have legal help.

Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton said in an official statement that she too has "real concerns" about the raids. Clinton has called for the United States to be "guided by a spirit of humanity and generosity" concerning illegal immigration.