"Is the goal to intimidate and frighten individuals and families whose only crime was to try to make lives better for themselves and their children?

No, the goal of these "enhanced deportation techniques" is to deliver on a promise made to the Republican base, formerly known as the "Tea Party," now known by the oh-so-benign euphemism "alt-right." Since their champion, the president, is seemingly already campaigning for the next election four years from now as evidenced by his recent "campaign rally" in Florida, every action he takes is meant to shore up that base - as if it needs shoring up. As he put it long ago, he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and that wouldn't deter his die-hard fans from supporting him. But apparently after the bad week he had last week, he needed a little boost. So he gives the base the things they want and they give him the thing he wants - yet more adulation to feed his bottomless ego. If some decent people's lives get uprooted in the process, so be it.