President Trump’s Operation Take Back America has already led to a staggering 3,755% increase in illegal reentry charges in California’s central district, demonstrating his administration’s unprecedented commitment to removing dangerous criminals from American communities.
Key Takeaways
- Operation Take Back America has resulted in thousands of criminal charges against illegal aliens since March, including over 1,300 in a single month.
- The initiative specifically targets individuals with previous felony convictions related to narcotics, firearms, and sexual offenses who have already been deported.
- Federal prosecutors in southwestern border districts have charged over 6,000 illegal immigrants with serious crimes as part of this coordinated effort.
- In Kentucky alone, the operation resulted in 81 administrative arrests of illegal aliens, with 25 facing immigration-related criminal charges.
- Drug seizures increased by 30% in March compared to February, with significant increases in cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl seizures.
Trump Administration Takes Decisive Action Against Criminal Illegal Aliens
President Trump’s administration launched “Operation Take Back America” in March as a comprehensive initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal activities. The operation focuses specifically on illegal aliens with serious felony histories who have been previously deported from the United States. This strategic approach has already yielded impressive results, with thousands of criminal charges filed against illegal immigrants involved in human smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and violent crimes. The operation represents a fundamental shift toward aggressive enforcement of immigration laws and protection of American communities from foreign criminal elements.
“The defendants charged were previously convicted of felonies before they were removed from the United States,” said the Department of Justice regarding those targeted in the operation.
Federal prosecutors in border states, including Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, are now handling a record number of these cases. The initiative prioritizes prosecution of individuals with past convictions for violent crimes, firearm violations, and sexual offenses – precisely the type of dangerous criminals that pose the greatest threat to public safety. This approach marks a stark contrast to the previous administration’s more lenient policies that allowed many criminal aliens to remain in the country.
With the southern border finally secured and illegal immigration at an all-time low, the Trump administration is cracking down on criminal aliens welcomed into the United States by the Biden administration.https://t.co/3jViRvcLRf pic.twitter.com/uCC5MKqIUe
— Judicial Watch ⚖️ (@JudicialWatch) May 29, 2025
Kentucky Operation Demonstrates Multi-Agency Coordination
A focused implementation of Operation Take Back America took place in Kentucky from March 10-14, resulting in 81 administrative arrests of illegal aliens, with 25 facing immigration-related criminal charges. In the Western District of Kentucky alone, 53 illegal aliens were arrested, and 18 were criminally charged. The operation revealed the diverse origins of these illegal immigrants, who came from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba, India, and Palau. This multi-jurisdictional effort demonstrates the administration’s commitment to addressing illegal immigration issues not just at the border, but throughout the entire country.
“I commend the work of our federal law enforcement partners, prosecutors, and support personnel who worked tirelessly to make this operation a success,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett.
The Kentucky operation exemplifies the whole-of-government approach being employed, with coordination between multiple federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS). This comprehensive coordination allows for more effective targeting of criminal networks operating across jurisdictional boundaries.
Targeting Transnational Criminal Organizations
Operation Take Back America extends beyond individual illegal aliens to directly confront the organized criminal enterprises that facilitate illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and other cross-border crimes. According to internal documents, the initiative specifically targets notorious criminal organizations, including “Tren de Aragua, MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Northeast Cartel (Los Zetas), New Michoacan Family, United Cartels, the Gulf Cartel, and any other Cartel.” This focus on dismantling the organizational infrastructure of transnational crime represents a strategic approach to addressing the root causes of border insecurity.
“Operation Take Back America will also include all efforts to target TdA [Tren de Aragua], MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Northeast Cartel (Los Zetas), New Michoacan Family, United Cartels, the Gulf Cartel, and any other Cartel,” stated the memo that launched the initiative.
The operation has already shown significant success in drug interdiction efforts, with seizures increasing by 30% in March compared to February. This includes substantial increases in cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl seizures. The interdiction of these dangerous narcotics not only disrupts the financial operations of criminal organizations but also prevents these deadly substances from reaching American communities, saving countless lives in the process.
Enforcing Consequences for Illegal Entry
A key component of Operation Take Back America is the return to expedited removal proceedings under Title 8 authorities, which carry stricter consequences for those who enter the country illegally. These consequences include a five-year ban on reentry and potential criminal prosecution, creating real deterrents for those considering illegal entry. The administration is also combating misinformation spread by smugglers who often deceive migrants about U.S. immigration policies and enforcement practices, leading many to undertake dangerous journeys based on false promises.
“CBP will continue to enforce our immigration laws and ramp up efforts to combat smuggler misinformation as we prepare to return to expedited removal proceedings under Title 8 authorities, which carry stricter consequences like a five-year ban on reentry and potential criminal prosecution for unlawful entry,” said CBP Acting Commissioner Troy A. Miller.
The operation has been particularly effective in addressing the issue of repeat offenders. The central district of California reported a staggering 3,755% increase in charges for illegal reentry since President Trump took office. This dramatic increase demonstrates both the scale of the problem and the administration’s commitment to ensuring that those who repeatedly violate our immigration laws face appropriate legal consequences. By focusing on repeat offenders, the operation targets those who have demonstrated a persistent disregard for U.S. law.
