MIRAMAR, Fla. – Some of those arrested during Sunday immigration raids in South Florida Sunday were brought to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Miramar.
The Trump administration is pushing for migrants who are thinking of entering the country to do it the right way and submit their paperwork before they get to the United States. If not, they may face deportation.
On Monday morning, the line outside the ICE Miramar office was long and moved slowly.
After properly submitting their documents many years ago, they all had appointments and check-ups to hopefully one day be approved to stay legally in the U.S.
A woman from Jamaica, for example, said a lot of people who get here illegally are desperate to leave their countries.
“Sometimes they don’t have a choice, sometimes they want to get away from the chaos that’s going on, sometimes they are in danger, their family is in danger, and when they go back, they are going to be dead,” she said.
Monday morning, outside the ICE office, she crossed her fingers and prayed for her son who was inside, waiting for his approval.
“Honestly, it’s terrible. Terrified. I’m very terrified, you know?” she said. “I’m just hoping for the best for my loved one and everyone else.”
The White House is already showing a clear message. Officials familiar with the matter say there are now more strict consequences if you enter the country illegally.
Tom Homan, a border official, said, “They are sending a strong signal to the world, our border is closed.”
President Donald Trump stated, “We are getting the bad, hard criminals out. These are the murderers. These are people that are as bad as they get, as bad as anyone you have seen. We are taking them out first.”
In South Florida, a law enforcement source told Local 10 News that ICE conducted raids across the area Sunday.
They were brought to their office in Miramar to allegedly be deported.
Hours later, Homeland Security Investigations Miami posted pictures showing federal officers “enforcing U.S. immigration law and ensuring the safety of our communities.”
Military airplanes are being used in these deportation efforts.
A Broward Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told Local 10 News Monday morning that it is not helping ICE officers with this effort.
Local 10 is waiting to hear back if that’s also the case from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.