Trump targets Democrat-run cities in expanded mass deportations
President Donald Trump has ordered more ICE raids focused on Democrat-run cities. AP photos
LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Despite ongoing community protests, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids were expected to continue this week in Southern California amid Trump administration guidance focusing on cities run by elected Democrats, while cutting back on enforcement at farms, hotels and restaurants.
“ICE Officers are herewith ordered, by notice of this TRUTH, to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History,” President Donald Trump posted Sunday on Truth Social, his social media platform.
“In order to achieve this, we must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside.
These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens.”
The 407-word post also highlighted Trump policy differences on gender, crime and other issues with cities run by Democrats and he vowed to direct his “entire Administration to put every resource possible behind this effort, and reverse the tide of Mass Destruction Migration that has turned once Idyllic Towns into scenes of Third World Dystopia.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has been in a continuing war of words with the president, reacted to Trump’s latest missive with a social media post of his own Monday morning.
“(Trump’s) plan is clear: incite violence and chaos in blue states, have an excuse to militarize our cities, demonize his opponents, keep breaking the law and consolidate power,” Newsom wrote. “It’s illegal and we will not stand for it.”
His plan is clear: Incite violence and chaos in blue states, have an excuse to militarize our cities, demonize his opponents, keep breaking the law and consolidate power.
It’s illegal and we will not let it stand. pic.twitter.com/zgyCiv1pu3
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 16, 2025
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass added on X, “If they can get away with it in the second largest city in the United States, then every city in our country is vulnerable. That’s what Trump pledged to follow through on last night. He’s using the federal government to wage a political war.”
If they can get away with it in the second largest city in the United States, then every city in our country is vulnerable.
That’s what Trump pledged to follow through on last night. He’s using the federal government to wage a political war. pic.twitter.com/UT6GDbC2NM
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) June 16, 2025
Trump administration officials have reportedly set a goal of up to 3,000 deportations per day, but said Friday it would scale back immigration and arrests at agricultural and hospitality sites in response to complaints from employers.
On Friday, Trump used a Truth Social post to explain his decision.
“President Trump has always stood up for our farmers, who were a major part of his November victory, by working to negotiate fairer trade deals and cut red tape,” Anna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement to The New York Times. “He will continue to strengthen our agricultural industry and boost exports while keeping his promise to enforce our immigration laws and remove the millions of unvetted illegals who flooded into the United States under Joe Biden.”
In a Thursday Truth Social post, the president said:
“Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace. In many cases the Criminals allowed into our Country by the VERY Stupid Biden Open Borders Policy are applying for those jobs. This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!”
Advocates for farm operators applauded the president’s revised guidance on raids at agriculture-related businesses.
“We appreciate President Trump’s comments … recognizing the contributions of farmworkers who play a vital role in growing food across America, and committing to preserve the ability of farms to provide a safe and secure food supply,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said in a statement on the group’s website. “Farm employees work hard every day to help produce healthy, American-grown food. If these workers are not present in fields and barns, there is a risk of supply chain disruptions similar to those experienced during the pandemic.
“We look forward to working with the President on solutions that ensure continuity in the food supply in the short term, and we call on Congress to follow the President’s lead to develop a permanent solution that fixes outdated and broken farmworker programs.” (With CNS report)
