Trump orders mass deportations focused on Democratic cities

President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered federal immigration authorities to intensify deportations, specifically targeting Democratic-led cities, as tensions grow over his administration’s aggressive immigration policies.

In a statement posted on social media, Trump called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to “do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.” He singled out major urban centers including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, claiming “millions upon millions of illegal aliens reside” there.

Expanded Enforcement — With Exceptions

The new directive follows weeks of escalated immigration enforcement. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, widely seen as the architect of Trump’s immigration stance, recently said the administration is targeting 3,000 daily arrests — nearly five times the daily average from earlier this year.

However, enforcement efforts will exclude certain industries. In response to backlash from business leaders and industry stakeholders, the Trump administration has ordered ICE to pause arrests at farms, restaurants, and hotels, sectors heavily dependent on undocumented labor.

A memo from ICE official Tatum King, obtained by Reuters, instructed regional leadership to suspend investigations into the agriculture, hospitality, and restaurant industries, including meatpacking facilities, to avoid disruption of operations.

National Protests and Federal Response

The announcement triggered immediate protests. Tens of thousands marched in Los Angeles and other cities over the weekend during “No Kings” demonstrations, coinciding with Trump’s military parade in Washington to mark the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary.

While most protests remained peaceful, police used tear gas and crowd-control munitions in Los Angeles to disperse demonstrators after the main events. In Portland, Oregon, federal agents fired projectiles and gas to break up crowds gathered near a federal immigration building.

President Trump credited the National Guard for keeping the peace. “If we didn’t have the National Guard on call and ready, they would rip Los Angeles apart,” he told reporters Sunday before departing for the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada.

Industry Pushback

Trump’s pivot to protect certain sectors follows private complaints from industry executives alarmed by the impact of ICE raids on labor-intensive businesses. On Thursday, Trump acknowledged on Truth Social that leaders in hospitality and agriculture had warned him that mass deportations were “taking very good, long-time workers away from them.”

He added that changes would be made to ensure enforcement does not “punish American businesses that rely on these hardworking people.”

Political Implications

The latest crackdown is likely to further inflame the political divide between the White House and Democratic city leaders. Critics argue the administration is weaponizing immigration enforcement for political gain, disproportionately targeting urban centers with large immigrant populations.

Advocacy groups and civil rights organizations are preparing legal challenges and organizing additional nationwide protests in the coming days.