U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered federal immigration authorities to escalate deportation efforts in Democratic-led cities, intensifying his administration’s hardline stance on immigration in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections.
In a statement posted Sunday on his Truth Social platform, Trump instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to prioritize large urban areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York cities he described as “Democrat Power Centers” and home to “millions of illegal aliens.”
“We must expand efforts to detain and deport illegal aliens in America’s largest cities,” Trump declared, repeating discredited claims that undocumented immigrants are voting in large numbers.
The move comes after immigration raids in Los Angeles sparked widespread protests. In response, Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, a decision opposed by local and state leaders. The state of California has since filed a federal lawsuit, challenging the legality of Trump’s deployment and seeking to regain control over its National Guard forces.
Despite growing backlash, Trump defended the actions of ICE agents, saying they face “violence, harassment, and threats” from “radical Democrat politicians.” He emphasized his administration’s commitment to carrying out what he described as “the single largest mass deportation program in history.”
In a lengthy social media post, Trump accused Democrats of destroying inner cities through lenient immigration policies, support for transgender rights, and tolerance for crime. He urged federal law enforcement agencies — including ICE, the FBI, DEA, and ATF — to “focus on our crime ridden and deadly inner cities” and pledged full federal support for their efforts.
He further compared the rise in undocumented migration to “weapons of mass destruction,” claiming the influx had transformed “once-idyllic towns into scenes of Third World dystopia.”
“To ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, the Patriots at the Pentagon and the State Department, you have my unwavering support,” Trump wrote. “Now go, GET THE JOB DONE!”
The directive has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups and Democratic leaders, who say the president’s rhetoric is inflammatory and his actions unconstitutional. Legal battles are expected to continue in the weeks ahead.
