U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered federal immigration authorities to intensify deportation operations in Democratic-controlled cities, escalating his hardline immigration stance amid rising political tensions and protests.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to expand operations in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, which he claimed are home to “millions upon millions of illegal aliens.”
“These cities are the heart of Democrat power,” Trump said, while repeating debunked claims that undocumented immigrants are voting in large numbers—an allegation widely dismissed by election experts.
Immigration has been a central theme of Trump’s re-election campaign, where he has frequently described the influx of undocumented migrants as an “invasion.” His directive follows a series of ICE raids in Los Angeles that triggered large-scale demonstrations. In response, Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, defying objections from California’s local and state governments.
California has since filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s authority to use the National Guard in this capacity, with the case currently proceeding through the federal courts.
In a lengthy message on Sunday, Trump accused Democratic leaders of obstructing law enforcement and endangering ICE officers, claiming they are regularly subjected to “violence and harassment.” He reiterated his intention to carry out “the single largest mass deportation program in history.”
He also lashed out at Democrats, branding them as extremists who “hate our country” and are responsible for the decline of urban centers. Trump condemned progressive policies on immigration, gender rights, and sports participation as evidence of Democratic dysfunction.
“This is why ICE and our law enforcement agencies must focus on our crime-ridden inner cities,” he declared, likening migration to weapons of mass destruction and asserting that it has transformed once-peaceful towns into “Third World dystopias.”
Pledging full support for federal agencies including ICE, the FBI, DEA, ATF, the Pentagon, and the State Department, Trump urged them to carry out their mission forcefully: “REAL Americans are cheering you on every day. Now go, GET THE JOB DONE!”
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