US: Weekly arrest of 680 undocumented immigrants is not so unusual

During the 2009 financial year, immigration officials made 35,094 arrests

Last week, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested more than 680 people in at least 12 states, shown below, stoking fears that the Trump administration is increasing the arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants.

But a comparison of last week’s arrests and similar ones during the first four years of the Obama presidency show that the recent level of enforcement activity is not unprecedented.

It is unclear, however, if the numbers are an actual increase in enforcement because information on operations in only 12 states was disclosed.

In President Obama’s first year, officials arrested an average of 675