National Interest: US deports over 45,000 foreign criminals during Trump's first 100 days

In an article for National Interest, Mike Waltz, US National Security Advisor under President Trump, outlined that in the first 100 days of Trump's administration, more than 45,000 foreign criminals were arrested or deported, including members of transnational gangs.

He outlined the significant challenges that President Trump and his administration inherited on January 20.

Waltz emphasised that these included an open southern border, rising global terrorist threats, American hostages held overseas, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza—issues he believes would not have emerged had Trump remained in office. He commended Trump for his leadership, highlighting several key accomplishments during his administration. 

One major achievement was the successful negotiation with countries across the Western Hemisphere to repatriate their citizens.

“We are also making enormous progress in removing the worst of the worst from inside our country, including through the arrest or deportation of 45,679 alien criminals,” Waltz wrote. 

This number includes 1,154 members of foreign terrorist organisations such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13. On the global front, Trump’s administration remained highly vigilant against terrorism, neutralizing over 78 top jihadi terrorists in Iraq, Syria, and Somalia, including Abu Khadijah, the second-in-command of ISIS. Trump’s intelligence-sharing efforts also led to the capture and extradition of an ISIS-K terrorist responsible for the deadly Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan. In Yemen, Trump took a strong stance against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists who were attacking American and international vessels in the Red Sea. 

Over 800 strikes have been conducted as part of a broader strategy to exert maximum pressure on Iran, which has funded terrorism and used oil revenues to build its missile arsenal and support groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Trump’s foreign policy also prioritised preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. While diplomacy continues, Waltz noted that the Trump administration made it clear that "all options are on the table" to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Additionally, Trump made substantial progress in strengthening US-Israel relations, including hosting Prime Minister Netanyahu as the first foreign leader at the White House under the new administration, fast-tracking billions in arms sales to Israel, and halting US funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which had supported Hamas. Finally, Waltz highlighted Trump’s dedication to securing the release of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. 

While the Biden administration has overseen the release of over seventy hostages in four years, Trump’s administration already secured the release of 46 Americans, including those held in Gaza and Afghanistan. Waltz emphasised that the Trump administration’s policy of fighting for every American unjustly detained abroad is a central pillar of its "America-First" foreign policy, and Trump remains committed to ensuring that all Americans are brought home.

By Naila Huseynova