The Trump administration has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ramp up arrests in sanctuary cities, marking a major escalation in immigration enforcement. The directive, issued June 15th, follows ongoing nationwide protests against the administration’s immigration policies.
President Donald Trump described the initiative as the “largest Mass Deportation Program in History,” naming Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York as primary targets. In a post on Truth Social, Trump urged ICE officers to intensify operations in what he called “crime-ridden” cities governed by Democratic officials. Administration officials say the new goal is 3,000 arrests per day, a sharp rise from the previous average of around 650.
Despite this aggressive push, the White House has instructed ICE to avoid disrupting key economic sectors like agriculture and hospitality, which depend heavily on immigrant labor. A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that certain operations would be paused in response to industry concerns. Trump has framed the strategy as a move to protect public safety, saying enforcement should prioritize individuals who pose threats to “domestic tranquility.”
The policy shift has triggered unrest in multiple cities. Protests in Los Angeles escalated after the National Guard was deployed, leading to confrontations involving tear gas and other crowd-control measures. Similar scenes unfolded in Portland, where demonstrators clashed with law enforcement outside federal buildings.
Critics, including immigration rights groups, have condemned the move as a politically motivated crackdown, while supporters argue the administration is taking necessary steps to uphold immigration law. Trump continues to defend the plan, claiming that sanctuary jurisdictions promote lawlessness and undermine the integrity of elections.
The White House has reaffirmed its support for ICE and other federal agencies involved, saying sanctuary cities will remain a top enforcement priority. According to administration officials, the campaign is part of a broader effort to remove what they describe as “illegal alien crime, conflict, and chaos” from urban centers.
