‘Protests Don’t Scare Me’ — Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities
President Donald Trump on Sunday instructed federal immigration authorities to ramp up deportations in cities run by Democrats, a directive that follows major protests in Los Angeles and other large urban centers opposing his immigration policies.
Using his social media platform, Trump urged U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.”
He emphasized that to accomplish this, officials “must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside.”
The announcement came after a period of heightened enforcement operations. Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff in the White House and the leading figure behind Trump’s immigration agenda, said ICE aimed to conduct at least 3,000 arrests per day—a major increase from the roughly 650 daily arrests during the early months of Trump’s second term.
Simultaneously, the administration has ordered a pause on enforcement actions at farms, restaurants, and hotels, in response to Trump’s concerns about the toll aggressive raids were taking on those economic sectors. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Trump was troubled by the effects on these industries.
Demonstrations have intensified nationwide in reaction to stepped-up immigration enforcement. Critics of Trump’s policies flooded the streets Saturday in a wave of protests dubbed the “no kings” movement. The events coincided with Trump’s grand military celebration in Washington, marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
Most protests unfolded peacefully, but tensions escalated in certain areas. In Los Angeles, police deployed tear gas and crowd-control tools to disperse participants after the march ended. Similarly, in Portland, Oregon, officers used tear gas and projectiles to break up demonstrations outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that continued late into the night.
Trump posted his latest deportation directive targeting Democrat-led cities while en route to the Group of Seven summit in Alberta, Canada. Speaking to reporters as he left the White House Sunday evening, he claimed the situation in Los Angeles remained calm because of military readiness.
“If we didn’t have the National Guard on call and ready, they would rip Los Angeles apart,” Trump said. This shift in enforcement strategy also comes as the administration attempts to navigate the backlash from industries affected by mass deportations. Trump acknowledged in a Truth Social post Thursday that he had been contacted by leaders in hospitality, farming, and tourism sectors, who warned his immigration crackdown was stripping them of “very good, long time workers.”
That same day, according to the U.S. official, Tatum King from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division directed regional offices to halt investigations into businesses in agriculture, including meatpacking operations, along with restaurants and hotels.
Note to our readers: This report is compiled from verified government communications, official statements, and trusted U.S. media outlets. All quotes have been retained in their original form to ensure transparency and reporting accuracy.
