(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump spent his first week in office bringing the U.S.-Mexico border to the nation’s center stage.
NewsNation has tracked what’s happened so far in its special coverage, “Crisis on the Border.”
Donald Trump’s first border actions
His first actions included signing a slew of executive orders to curtail immigration and deport unauthorized migrants already in the country. One order, signed on day one, shut down the CBP One app, canceling all outstanding appointments made by migrants seeking visas.
Others designated cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, attempted to end birthright citizenship and shuttered the U.S. refugee program. Immigration officers are also now permitted to enter sensitive locations like schools and churches to conduct raids.
In his first week, the 47th president deployed an initial 1,500 troops in California and Texas, making good on his promise to involve military personnel at the border.
Multiple deportations were carried out via flight, some of which were reportedly refused by Mexico. The White House has since claimed there was a miscommunication and that Mexico has not refused any of the flights.
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, confirmed that 80 Guatemalan nationals were deported early Friday morning by plane at Biggs Army Airfield in his district.
ICE arrests more than 1,000 people across US
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in 10 major U.S. cities — including Boston, Denver, New York City and Newark — have led to the arrests of more than 1,300 criminal migrants, Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan told NewsNation on Thursday.
On Friday, one arrest was a convicted murderer and 10 were members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
The number of arrests in the first three days of Trump’s presidency represents about 1.1% of total arrests made by ICE in FY 2024.
Then, there were about 310 average daily arrests. That average is now about 433 per day — a number that will likely grow.
Mexican authorities warn of explosives planted by cartels
Trump signed a new executive order designating Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
The order states that cartels “threaten the safety of the American people, the security of the United States, and the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere.”
Meanwhile, Mexican authorities have issued a warning to their citizens about explosives near the U.S.-Mexico border, reportedly deployed by cartels in the Tamaulipas region. Residents are cautioned not to touch suspicious materials, a message also relevant for American travelers in the area.
In California, border violence escalated when cartel-linked bandits opened fire on hikers near Jacumba, injuring one man.
Sources say the group was unaware they were being robbed due to a language barrier, prompting the assailants to flee back into Mexico after the shooting. The victim’s condition remains unknown.
Trump’s order stops short of naming specific cartels but directs Cabinet officials to recommend groups for designation within two weeks.
Asked about potential military action in Mexico, Trump hinted at the possibility, stating, “Stranger things have happened.”
Chicago neighborhood turned ‘ghost town’ amid deportations
In Chicago, the fear of deportation has left many streets and businesses in Hispanic neighborhoods eerily quiet.
Immigrant-owned establishments like El Mesquite, a taqueria in Pilsen run by the Cruz family since their arrival from Mexico in 1994, reflect the uncertainty gripping these communities.
“I’m not a criminal. I pay my taxes,” said Hector Ceciliano, an employee at El Mesquite. “But I’m scared they’ll grab me, too.”
While polling shows 65% of Americans support deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes, resistance is also growing. Advocacy groups in Chicago and other cities have distributed materials instructing immigrants on how to block federal agents from entering their homes.
Still, some, including Horacio Aguilera, a Mexican American Iraq War veteran and Trump supporter, back the administration’s efforts.
“If you’re here illegally and you commit a crime, you should be deported,” Aguilera said.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker pushed back against critics who claim Democrats are stoking fear. “They’re threatening people all across the country,” he said. “We’re not overreacting.”
The Trump administration has signaled plans to investigate local officials who interfere with federal immigration crackdowns, further escalating tensions between Washington and sanctuary cities.
Jocelyn Nungaray’s mom: Suspects deserve death penalty
Alexis Nungaray, the mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray who was killed last June, continues her fight for justice as prosecutors seek the death penalty against two Venezuelan men accused of kidnapping and murdering her daughter.
In an interview with NewsNation, Nungaray described how she copes with the loss, saying, “The grief never goes away. I try to bring light to her name and story by spreading awareness and helping other families.”
Prosecutors allege the suspects, who crossed the border illegally earlier that year, committed the crime in Houston. When asked about the death penalty, Nungaray stated, “If they didn’t want to have the death penalty, they should have never did the actions that they did against her. It fits the crime.”
Nungaray also addressed misconceptions about her stance on immigration. “I’m pro-immigration and I support people coming here the right way, and I support people wanting a better life,” she said.
“We as a country need migration, but I just don’t support people who come here the wrong way.”
Her advocacy aligns with recent legislative efforts, including the Laken Riley Act, which mandates detention for undocumented migrants accused of theft and violent crimes.
While Nungaray welcomed the bill, she called for the need for stronger measures, revealing she is working with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on additional legislation to expand border security and detention resources.
Alexis Nungaray hopes the “Justice for Jocelyn Act” will memorialize her daughter and ensure something like this will never happen again.
Labeling cartels a terrorist organization is not enough: Ex-cartel
Former Sinaloa cartel kingpin Margarito “Jay” Flores Jr., a man who knows the cartel inside out, spoke about the dangers of combating cartels and the challenges facing the U.S. in the ongoing war on drugs.
Wearing glasses and a mask to protect his identity, Flores highlighted the importance of a multifaceted approach to dismantling cartels, arguing that treating drug trafficking solely as a military issue overlooks its business nature.
“It’s going to take a multi-faceted approach. It’s not just about labeling these cartels as terrorist organizations. I think that’s a great tool,” Flores said. “But I think what no one ever looks at or fails to realize is that drug trafficking is a business.”
He talked about the role of U.S.-based operatives in drug distribution, noting, “The drug trade in the U.S. and Canada outpaces what the cartels do in Mexico.”
When asked about his past dealings with notorious figures like former drug lord El Chapo, Flores said the cartels fear U.S. laws and military action.
NewsNation’s Safia Samee Ali, Damita Menezes and Anna Kutz contributed to this report.
