By Jordan King is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her current focus is on religion, health, food safety and population. She has covered the persecution of religions in the global south, fertility and birth rate issues around the world, multiple disease outbreaks in the U.S.
President Donald Trump has ordered federal immigration officials to ramp up deportations from Democratic-run cities.
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials should "do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History."
Why It Matters
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history. Since returning to office on January 20, the president has overseen widespread ICE detention and deportation operations across the country.
Last week saw protests break out against ICE raids in multiple cities, including Los Angeles, where violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement occurred. Trump authorized the deployment of National Guard troops in the city.
Despite the unrest, data suggests that Trump's messaging on border enforcement and immigration control may be resonating even within the immigrant community.
What To Know
Trump wrote on Truth Social that ICE "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."
He added: "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. These Radical Left Democrats are sick of mind, hate our Country, and actually want to destroy our Inner Cities—And they are doing a good job of it!
"I want our Brave ICE Officers to know that REAL Americans are cheering you on every day. The American People want our Cities, Schools, and Communities to be SAFE and FREE from Illegal Alien Crime, Conflict, and Chaos. That's why I have directed my 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."
Trump's administration provided immigration officials with the personal data of millions of Medicaid recipients last week, including their immigration status, the Associated Press reported, citing an internal memo and email.
Two close advisers to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to transfer Medicaid data to immigration enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last Tuesday, according to the memo and email.
Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, told Newsweek previously: "With respect to the recent data sharing between CMS and DHS, HHS acted entirely within its legal authority—and in full compliance with all applicable laws—to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them."
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Our Nation's ICE Officers have shown incredible strength, determination, and courage as they facilitate a very important mission, the largest Mass Deportation Operation of Illegal Aliens in History. Every day, the Brave Men and Women of ICE are subjected to violence, harassment, and even threats from Radical Democrat Politicians, but nothing will stop us from executing our mission, and fulfilling our Mandate to the American People. 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."
Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has repeatedly spoken out against Trump's crackdown in Los Angeles, said: "Look, this isn't just about protests in LA. This is about all of us. This is about you. California may be first—but it clearly won't end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next."
What Happens Next
Trump has called for increased deportation efforts in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, what he called the "core of the Democrat Power Center."
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