Trump directs ICE to expand deportation in Democratic-run cities, not avoided by protests
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday directed federal immigration officials to prioritize large protests in Los Angeles and other major cities, with massive protests erupting in Los Angeles and other major cities.
In a social media article, Trump called on ice officials to “do their best to achieve the very important goal of achieving the largest massive deportation program in history.”
He added that to reach the target officials “we must expand efforts to detain and expel illegal foreigners in the largest U.S. cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, where millions of illegal foreigners live.”
Trump's announcement comes weeks after law enforcement increases. Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House and lead architect of Trump’s immigration policy, said U.S. immigration and customs law enforcement officers arrested at least 3,000 people a day, compared with about 650 a day in the first five months of Trump’s second term.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration directed immigration officials to pause arrests at farms, restaurants and hotels after Trump expressed shock over the impact of active law enforcement on these industries, a U.S. official familiar with the matter who spoke only on anonymous condition.
Protests against federal immigration enforcement attacks broke out across the country.
Opponents of Trump’s immigration policy took to the streets as part of a “King Without” demonstration held on Saturday, when Trump held a massive parade in Washington, accounting for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
Most of the protests on Saturday were peaceful.
But police in Los Angeles broke out a week ago in protests over federal immigration enforcement attacks and sparked protests nationwide, using tear gas and crowd-controlled ammunition to clear protesters after the event.
Officials in Portland, Oregon also fired tear gas and projectiles to disperse a crowd of people organized in front of U.S. immigration and customs enforcement until evening.
Trump has called for increased law enforcement on social media in democratically controlled cities as he is heading to seven economic summits in Alberta, Canada.
He suggested that when journalists left the White House for the G7 on Sunday night, his decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles was the reason for the peaceful protests in the city.
“If we don't have a call and have the National Guard ready, they'll tear Los Angeles apart,” Trump said.
