Federal immigration enforcement is entering a new phase as President Donald Trump escalates efforts to remove undocumented immigrants from sanctuary cities. The directive, issued on Sunday, June 15th, came amid nationwide demonstrations opposing the administration’s immigration agenda. Trump called the campaign the “largest Mass Deportation Program in History,” highlighting cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York as focal points for the expanded actions.
In a Truth Social post, Trump praised ICE officers for their resolve, writing that they “must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities.” The president emphasized that these areas, run by Democratic leaders, have become strongholds of “crime-ridden and deadly Inner Cities” where sanctuary policies allegedly undermine federal law. Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff, noted a targeted increase to 3,000 arrests per day, compared to the prior average of 650 daily arrests.
At the same time, Trump has acknowledged concerns from the agricultural, hotel, and restaurant industries about labor shortages caused by immigration raids. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, said ICE was told to pause operations in certain economic sectors. Trump addressed this balance in his statement, claiming that remigration efforts should focus on individuals undermining “domestic tranquility” while shielding industries dependent on immigrant labor. The agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division will be the primary force executing the plan.
Protests erupted in response to the shift in enforcement. In Los Angeles, demonstrations were met with tear gas and crowd-control measures following Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops. Trump defended the move, stating, “If we didn’t have the National Guard on call and ready, they would rip Los Angeles apart.” Portland also saw similar clashes, with law enforcement deploying projectiles to disperse crowds protesting at federal buildings.
This policy intensification has drawn sharp criticism from immigration advocates, while Trump supporters applauded the hardline approach. The president reiterated that “REAL Americans” support these measures, arguing that sanctuary jurisdictions fuel election fraud and economic instability. Urban policy analysts have noted that such strategies can significantly affect local governance and infrastructure in high-density cities.
The administration asserts its full commitment to ICE and other federal agencies involved in enforcement. The White House has directed federal resources to prioritize sanctuary jurisdictions as part of its broader immigration crackdown, reaffirming its goal of detaining and removing what it terms “illegal alien crime, conflict, and chaos” from major U.S. cities.
