Trump orders mass deportation amid nationwide protests, industry pushback

In a sweeping escalation of his hardline immigration agenda, U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered federal immigration authorities to concentrate deportation efforts on Democratic-led cities, calling for what he described as “the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.”

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to “do all in their power” to expand efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, particularly in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, which he claimed are home to “Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens.”

The move comes in the wake of nationwide protests against Trump’s immigration policies. Demonstrators took to the streets under the banner of “No Kings” on Saturday, coinciding with the president’s high-profile military parade in Washington, D.C., commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.

Violent clashes followed in multiple cities. In Los Angeles, police used tear gas and crowd-control munitions to disperse protesters after the parade. Similar scenes unfolded in Portland, Oregon, where officers fired projectiles and tear gas outside an ICE facility.

Trump’s directive marks a shift in immigration enforcement strategy as his administration now prioritizes mass arrests in urban areas that typically oppose his immigration agenda. ICE agents have reportedly been instructed to ramp up daily arrests from an average of 650 to at least 3,000, according to administration insiders.

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This intensified approach follows statements from Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff and a key figure behind his immigration policies. Miller has publicly advocated for an aggressive deportation strategy focused on cities perceived as “sanctuaries” for undocumented immigrants.

While enforcement is ramping up in urban centers, ICE agents have also been told to temporarily halt operations in sectors vital to the economy. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that immigration officers were instructed to pause arrests at farms, restaurants, and hotels—a decision reportedly prompted by Trump’s concern about labor shortages in these industries.

Trump acknowledged industry concerns during a post on Thursday, stating that his aggressive immigration stance had drawn complaints from hotel, agriculture, and leisure industry leaders who warned about the loss of experienced workers.

“I’ve heard from farmers and business owners who say very good, long-time workers are being taken away,” Trump wrote. “We’re making adjustments.”

On the same day, Tatum King, a senior official with ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division, issued a directive to regional leadership instructing them to suspend investigations targeting the agriculture and hospitality sectors, including meatpacking plants, restaurants, and hotels.

Speaking to reporters before departing for the G7 economic summit in Alberta, Canada, Trump credited the presence of National Guard troops for maintaining relative calm in Los Angeles.

“If we didn’t have the National Guard on call and ready, they would rip Los Angeles apart,” the president claimed.

The decision to deploy military resources and shift deportation focus to Democratic cities is expected to further inflame political tensions nationwide, particularly in the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections, where immigration remains a deeply divisive issue.