U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered an intensified deportation drive targeting undocumented immigrants in Democratic-led cities, a move that has sparked nationwide controversy and unrest. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York harbor “millions upon millions of illegal aliens” and must be the focus of what he described as “the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.”
This directive comes in the wake of widespread protests in Los Angeles, sparked by recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Although largely peaceful, the protests have occasionally turned tense, prompting Trump to deploy 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to the city an action strongly opposed by local and state leaders.
California has since filed a lawsuit against the federal government, arguing that Trump overstepped his authority by deploying troops without state consent. The legal battle is now moving through federal courts.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass extended a citywide curfew, citing ongoing unrest and community fear. “People are afraid to leave their homes,” she said, describing the ICE raids as “indiscriminate” and deeply unsettling to the city’s large Latino population.
Critics accuse Trump of exploiting immigration for political gain, reviving debunked conspiracy theories about undocumented immigrants voting in elections. His rhetoric also touched on broader culture war themes, targeting Democrats for supporting transgender rights and accusing them of fostering crime in urban centers.
In a fiery message, Trump claimed ICE officers are being “harassed” by “radical Democrat politicians” but vowed they would not be deterred. He directed multiple federal agencies—including the FBI, DEA, ATF, and the Pentagon—to support the operation.
“We must reverse the tide of mass destruction migration that has turned once idyllic towns into scenes of Third World dystopia,” Trump declared.
The escalation has intensified political tensions, setting the stage for a deeply divisive election season centered around immigration, law enforcement, and federal authority. With legal challenges mounting and cities resisting federal control, the nation braces for a prolonged standoff over immigration policy and states’ rights.
