U.S authorities have arrested 538 individuals in a large-scale operation targeting illegal immigrants, which saw hundreds of deportations just days into President Donald Trump’s second term.

According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the deportations were carried out using military aircraft, marking what she described as “the largest massive deportation operation in history.”

Leavitt emphasized that the operation fulfilled Trump’s campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration.

The president has continued to prioritize immigration reform, signing executive orders declaring a “national emergency” at the southern border and deploying more troops to assist with enforcement.

Earlier in the week, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka condemned an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid, where undocumented residents and even some citizens were detained without warrants.

Additionally, the Republican-led U.S. Congress recently approved a bill to expand pretrial detention for foreign criminal suspects, further tightening immigration policies.

The military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced the launch of a new common passport, which will come into effect on January 29.

This marks the date the three countries formally exit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a decision they made after severing ties with the regional bloc last year.

The three nations, which have experienced military coups between 2020 and 2023, formed the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) as a political and security alliance.

This move comes after they criticized ECOWAS for being overly influenced by France and failing to adequately support their fight against jihadist insurgencies.

The AES passports will replace the ECOWAS travel documents, although current ECOWAS passports will remain valid until their expiration dates.

However, citizens of the three countries can exchange their old ECOWAS passports for the new AES ones.

The three countries also announced plans to collaborate on creating a 5,000-member unit to combat growing jihadist violence in the region.

Since taking power, the juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have shifted their alliances, distancing themselves from France and seeking closer ties with Russia and other new partners.

A U.S federal judge on Thursday issued a temporary injunction halting President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order aimed at limiting birthright citizenship.

The ruling, which blocks the enforcement of the order for 14 days, follows legal challenges filed by 22 states, two cities, and multiple civil rights organizations.

Senior U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, who was appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan, strongly criticized the executive order, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.”

During the hearing in Washington state, he emphasized the clarity of the case, saying, “I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one.”

The order, signed by Trump shortly after his inauguration for a second term, sought to redefine birthright citizenship, arguing that individuals in the U.S. illegally or on a visa should not be considered “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore not entitled to citizenship by birth.

Birthright citizenship has long been a cornerstone of U.S. law, enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees that anyone born on U.S. soil automatically becomes a citizen. The ruling represents a significant setback for Trump’s immigration policies and comes amid ongoing debates over the interpretation of the 14th Amendment.

In his first major speech since returning to the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to global business leaders, urging them to manufacture their products in the United States or face steep tariffs.

Speaking remotely at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Trump reiterated his administration’s commitment to reshaping U.S. trade policies, which include potential tariffs on key trading partners such as Canada, Mexico, and China, starting February 1.

Trump, who was inaugurated earlier this week, emphasized that businesses that set up operations in the U.S. would benefit from some of the lowest tax rates in the world.

However, he made it clear that those who choose not to relocate their manufacturing to America would be subject to tariffs.

“Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on earth,” Trump stated, adding, “But if you don’t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply you will have to pay a tariff.”

In addition to his remarks on trade, Trump suggested that lower oil prices could end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, calling on Saudi Arabia and OPEC to reduce oil prices.

“If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately,” he claimed.

Trump also expressed optimism about his future relationship with China, but emphasized that fairness in trade was his primary goal.

His administration’s previous tariff war with China remains a key element of his economic policy.

In a wide-ranging speech, Trump also signaled plans to pressure the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, stating, “I’ll demand that interest rates drop immediately.”

He added that he expected interest rates to decrease globally as well.

Trump also made controversial statements regarding gender, declaring that the U.S. would adopt an official policy recognizing only two genders, male and female.

He also criticized the participation of men in women’s sports and stated that gender surgeries should be rare.

Since taking office, Trump has prioritized a significant overhaul of U.S. trade policies, with a focus on imposing tariffs and taxes on foreign countries to benefit American citizens.

He has signed an executive order directing government agencies to investigate trade deficits and unfair practices, setting the stage for more tariffs in the future.