SAN JUAN – The number of people arrested for being in the U.S. illegally is up by nearly 40 percent from last year.

The Trump administration continues its efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Those who are picked up are either known or suspected of being in the country illegally.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they arrested 41,318 people on civil immigration charges during President Trump’s first 100 days.

It’s an increase from more than 30,000 during the same time period in 2016, when President Obama was still in office.

Back in January, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at helping federal law enforcement.  Acting ICE director Thomas Homan said the order allows agents to do the job they were sworn to do.

John Michael Torres with immigrant rights group La Union Del Pueblo Entero said the impact of the crackdown is being felt in the Rio Grande Valley.

“Specifically, our members are reporting now that on their way to work or in shopping center, they’re being stopped and being asked about their immigration status and being picked up and deported,” he said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said anyone in the country illegally runs the risk of being picked up and deported, regardless of their criminal status.

During President Trump’s first 100 days, nearly 11,000 non-criminal immigrants were arrested. That’s more than double the amount from the same time last year.