WASHINGTON — June 15, 2025 — In a bold escalation of his hardline immigration agenda, President Donald Trump has directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to significantly increase deportation operations in major Democratic-run cities. The move comes in the wake of widespread protests across the country, most notably in Los Angeles and Portland, and amid concerns from key American industries reliant on undocumented labor.

In a post shared to his Truth Social account Sunday, Trump described the effort as “the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History,” urging ICE officers to prioritize enforcement in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, which he claims are harboring “Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens.”

“To meet this goal,” Trump wrote, “ICE must expand efforts in America’s largest Cities.”

The renewed push follows internal guidance from Trump’s senior advisor Stephen Miller, who reportedly set a target of 3,000 daily arrests, a massive increase from the previous daily average of around 650 during the early months of Trump’s second term.

However, while urban deportation operations are ramping up, ICE agents have been told to pause immigration-related investigations at farms, restaurants, and hotels—an apparent concession to complaints from the hospitality and agriculture sectors. Trump admitted last week that he received concerns from industry leaders worried about losing long-time employees due to enforcement sweeps.

“I’ve heard from hotels, meatpackers, and farm owners across the country,” Trump posted Thursday, “and we’re working on adjustments.”

An internal memo obtained by AP confirms that Tatum King, a senior official in ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division, ordered agents to suspend enforcement activities in those industries. The memo reportedly cited “economic impact concerns” and noted the president’s direct involvement in the decision.

Protest Response Escalates

Saturday’s “No Kings” protests, organized in response to both immigration policy and Trump’s authoritarian rhetoric, led to tense standoffs in multiple cities. Though largely peaceful, protests in Los Angeles ended with police using tear gas and other crowd-control measures to disperse attendees.

In Portland, ICE buildings were surrounded by demonstrators well into the night, prompting federal officers to deploy tear gas and projectiles to clear the scene.

Despite public backlash, Trump credited the relatively calm demonstrations in Los Angeles to the presence of National Guard troops.

“If we didn’t have the National Guard on call and ready, they would rip Los Angeles apart,” he told reporters before departing for the G7 Summit in Canada.

Balancing Politics and Economy

Trump’s strategic focus on Democratic-controlled cities is being read as both a political maneuver and a logistical pivot. These cities, often labeled as “sanctuary” jurisdictions, have historically resisted federal immigration enforcement, making them symbolic battlegrounds for the administration.

Critics argue the effort amounts to politically motivated targeting, particularly as Trump eyes his 2028 reelection bid and continues to position himself as the law-and-order candidate. Immigration advocates warn the administration’s sweeping deportation goal will tear apart families and deepen fear in immigrant communities.

Meanwhile, the pause on enforcement in economically critical sectors is raising questions about the consistency and sustainability of the administration’s broader immigration crackdown.

State	Major Democratic City	ICE Raids Reported?
California	Los Angeles, San Francisco	✅ Yes
New York	New York City	✅ Yes
Illinois	Chicago	✅ Yes
Oregon	Portland	✅ Yes
Washington	Seattle	✅ Yes
Massachusetts	Boston	✅ Yes
New Jersey	Newark	🚫 Not Yet Reported
Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	🚫 Not Yet Reported
Minnesota	Minneapolis	🚫 Not Yet Reported
Colorado	Denver	🚫 Not Yet Reported
Michigan	Detroit	🚫 Not Yet Reported
Georgia	Atlanta	🚫 Not Yet Reported
Arizona	Phoenix	🚫 Not Yet Reported
Texas	Houston, Dallas	✅ Yes (Selective)
Nevada	Las Vegas	🚫 Not Yet Reported