Border Security and Deportations: What’s changed under President Trump?

From border security to deportations, the debate on immigration remains in the spotlight.

While immigration and Customs Enforcement officers said changes are minimal under the Trump Administration – Locals express fear of the President’s approach.

In a Special Report, News 11 spoke to people directly affected by administrative changes such as deportation.

Moreover, KYMA’s Vanessa Dillon spoke to ICE officials who said they’d like to give the community a better look at the issue.

Since President Trump’s First 100 days in office, so-called “ICE Raids” seemed to be at the top of the President’s priority list.

However, Enrique Lucero, Field Office Director with ICE said the term and concept is inaccurate.

“When we target individuals – And it’s often a misconception that the media says there are ‘immigration raids,'” Lucero said. “We don’t do that.”

However, ICE officers continue to strictly enforce the law.

They’re now abiding to Trump’s Executive Order, which states: “Agencies employ all lawful means to ensure the execution of immigration laws against all those of undocumented status.”

According to a report made by ICE, arrests have spiked by 43% under the Trump Administration.

“In my opinion, nothing has changed,” Lucero said. “In fact, we’re still targeting individuals who are convicted of the most serious crimes. But we also arrest people who are in violation of the law.”

A local immigration lawyer said there’s a change he’s seen under the current Administration.

Sebastian Sanchez said fear has risen since the President took office.

“The main change I want to say is the fear factor,” Sanchez said. “People under the Obama Administration – you didn’t feel that fear.”

However, ICE said a sense of fear among those of undocumented status has always been present.

“While people may be expressing more of a fear,” Lucero said. “If you came here illegally, you may have already always experienced fear because you are in fact, not here legally in the United States.”

Carlos Moreno, a Mexican native who was deported in 2010, said he agrees.

“Television, the news, everything has become a speculation,” Moreno said. “And a lot of times if scares people. And a lot of times I think they’re being misinformed.”

The topic will remain an ongoing-issue and discussion, because studies show the conversation about a stricter Administration might be debatable.

“ICE has really been doing this work since I’ve been doing this in 2003,” Lucero said.

“The Obama Administration was the Administration that deported and removed the most people,” Sanchez said. “So the only difference I see is fear.”

Moreno said there might be one solution to the issue.

“I think if you’re in a country illegally, you have to aim for your citizenship,” Moreno said. “Don’t stop being persistent and say, ‘You know what? I’m going to do it.'”