The ACLU raised a mighty ruckus about the methods being used by previous administrations. Nobody else cared.

This is political theatre.

https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/border-patrol-wa...

https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/speed-over-fairn...

https://www.aclu.org/news/smart-justice/immigration-policy-o...

There are many more articles. The prior administrations deported more people and introduced new tactics and precedents used to this day.