As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations increase across several major American cities, President Donald Trump has consistently supported his administration’s strategy. In an interview with CBS News’s 60 Minutes, he stated that agents “have not gone far enough” in their operations, dismissing criticism of the approach.
For several weeks, ICE operations have increased, particularly in “sanctuary cities” such as Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco. These operations, often conducted at dawn by teams of agents, aim to arrest and deport undocumented individuals.
When asked about videos showing agents using tear gas or breaking vehicle windows, President Trump did not criticize these tactics:
“No. I think they haven’t gone far enough, because we’ve been held back by liberal judges.”
For the president, these methods are justified: “You have to look at who these people are. Many are murderers or criminals,” he said, before adding: “You came in illegally, you’re going out.”
The White House presents this approach as a return to stricter enforcement, following years of policies it considers too permissive. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that, as a result, ICE agents now conduct several thousand arrests daily, particularly in Illinois, Massachusetts, and California.
While the president says these raids target what he calls the “worst criminals,” some observers report a different reality: many arrested migrants have no criminal records. Among those detained are construction workers, agricultural laborers, and domestic employees.
When presented with this information, Trump responded: “Gardeners who are criminals, yes.”
Political reactions followed quickly. California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the Trump administration is using federal forces to “fuel fear and division,” while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker described the raids as a “disproportionate and inhumane operation.”
Immigrant support organizations describe a climate of fear. Some families seek refuge in churches or avoid going out, and several schools report lower attendance among children of immigrant parents.
For Amelia Dagen of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, these raids are primarily a political strategy: “This is not a public safety policy, it’s a strategy of intimidation. They’re targeting families, not dangerous criminals.”
From the White House’s perspective, the president’s advisers believe this approach to immigration strengthens his political credibility and mobilizes his electoral base. As a result, immigration remains one of the most debated issues of Donald Trump’s term.
As arrests continue across the country, the president stands by his position. “We are enforcing the law, and we will do so without apologies,” he declared at the interview’s end. He confirmed that firmness will stay at the heart of his immigration policy.
