President Donald Trump has ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to intensify deportation operations in major Democratic-led cities. The directive, posted Sunday on social media, calls for “the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.”
Trump specifically named cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago — urban centers with large undocumented populations — as key targets, claiming “millions upon millions” of undocumented immigrants reside there.
This move follows weeks of increased immigration enforcement and public protests against Trump’s hardline immigration stance. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller stated that ICE now aims for 3,000 arrests per day, a sharp increase from the earlier average of 650.
However, enforcement will reportedly be paused at locations like farms, restaurants, and hotels after Trump voiced concerns about labor shortages in key industries.
The shift signals a more politically targeted approach to immigration enforcement as the administration ramps up pressure on cities opposing federal immigration policies.