Trump announces intensified operations against immigrants
Despite nationwide protests, US President Trump intends to further tighten his immigration policy – and has announced more raids and deportations. He is particularly targeting Democratic strongholds.
In the heated debate surrounding his migration policy, US President Donald Trump is upping the ante. In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, the Republican instructed the immigration enforcement agency ICE to expand arrests and deportations, particularly in the Democratic-governed cities of Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. He called on officials to "do everything in their power" to complete the "largest mass deportation in history." Trump appealed to ICE and other agencies: "Get the job done!"
Protests against Trump's immigration policies have erupted in several US cities in recent days. The demonstrations intensified and occasionally escalated into riots after the president deployed National Guardsmen and Marines to the greater Los Angeles area—against the express wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is considered a possible Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
Mass deportations were a central campaign promise of Trump. Since taking office, raids and arrests have been staged with high publicity: with press releases, photos of those affected, and regular updates on the execution. A thorn in Trump's side in his hardline policy are so-called sanctuary cities—cities that, to some extent, refuse to cooperate with ICE. These include Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
It is estimated that around eleven million undocumented people live in the United States. Many of them perform essential work for the U.S. economy, for example, in agriculture, construction, and the hospitality industry.
Against this backdrop, Trump recently made a course correction: The New York Times, citing government officials, reported that ICE had been instructed internally to largely suspend raids and arrests at farms, hotels, and restaurants. The Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for the investigation, confirmed the newspaper's research. Trump himself referred to the concerns of farmers and hoteliers on Truth Social about their loss of reliable workers.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
