US President Donald Trump has just directed the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) to implement the largest-scale illegal immigration plan in the country's history. In a message posted on the Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump emphasized the goal of "achieving the largest mass deportation program ever".
Mr. Trump asked ICE to expand its operations in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York - where he said there are millions of illegal immigrants residing. These cities are currently under the leadership of the Democratic Party and are known for their immigration protection policies, often refusing to cooperate with federal agencies under the hostling city regulations.
President Trump accused the Democrats of using illegal immigrants to expand voters, cheat on elections and increase the burden of social welfare, thereby affecting jobs and the rights of US citizens.
After last week's ICE raids, a wave of protests and riots broke out in Los Angeles. In response, President Trump ordered the deployment of the National Guard and Marines to the area, prompting California state officials to react strongly.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticized the decision, saying it was unconstitutional and beyond presidential authority. The state of California has filed a lawsuit in federal court to prevent the deployment of inland military.
A strict order was imposed in parts of central Los Angeles on Tuesday, following days of robberies, sabotage and clashes with police.
During his election campaign, Trump pledged to reverse the open border policies of former President Joe Biden, who had seen a surge in immigration from the Mexico border. Now, with a commitment to tighten border control and mass deportations, President Trump is pushing for one of the toughest immigration programs the US has ever implemented.
