The Obama administration is reportedly gearing up for a new wave of deportation raids that will target mothers and children from Central America illegally living in the United States.
Citing an internal document,
Reuters reports that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers and agents will conduct raids in May and June during a 30-day period.
The exact dates of the operation are not known, but ICE offices nationwide reportedly have been told to launch the raids against Central Americans who have already been told to leave the U.S. Those caught will be deported.
A similar series of raids in Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina resulted in 121 people — mostly women and children —
being detained over a two-day period in January.
This year has seen an increase in illegal minors being apprehended at the U.S. border with Mexico.
Recent numbers released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed the number of children aged 17 and under nabbed at the border this year was almost double the figure for all of 2015 — 27,754 compared to 15,616.
The border issue has taken on a new life during the current presidential campaign, with presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump pledging to build a wall separating the U.S. and Mexico.