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USA Today
21 hours ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Trump is on a collision course with millions of Americans. He's not backing down.
After the No Kings protests that saw millions speak out against the Trump administration's immigration policies, the White House is ramping up efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. The White House is doubling down on President Trump's signature campaign promise and escalating efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, targeting Democrat-run cities and heightening tensions with powerful liberal governors from California to New York. The pressure-cooker campaign comes after the massive "No Kings" protests last weekend that drew millions of Americans out to the streets to oppose Trump's administration, which has made immigration enforcement a top priority. The protests included about 5 million people nationally, according to organizers, and many attendees specifically cited concerns about immigration enforcement. A week before, fierce protests in Los Angeles sparked by aggressive detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents led to clashes, tear gassing, scattered looting and multiple vehicles being set on fire. The vast majority of attendees were peaceful, however. To quell the protests and protect ICE agents in California, Trump called up thousands of National Guard troops over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom − referred to by Trump as "Newscum" − and has told federal agents they have his unconditional support to continue aggressive enforcement. Trump has also invoked military powers usually reserved for wartime, declaring that Biden-era immigration policies facilitated an invasion. And the president is pushing to dramatically expand detention centers and deportation flights while finishing the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Immigrant-rights advocates have reported harsher enforcement in rural farming communities and big cities alike, and note that federal statistics show more than 40% of ICE detainees have no criminal record. Trump and administration officials say they are targeting violent criminals and gang members, though Americans are also seeing vineyard workers, car-wash attendants and building contractors snatched up, in many cases by masked men and women refusing to identify themselves, ratcheting up tensions. Polls show a majority of voters support the president's approach: 51% of Americans approve of his handling of border security and immigration, although only 45% of voters approve of his overall job as president, according to the NBC News Decision Desk Poll, conducted with SurveyMonkey. "The American people want our cities, schools and communities to be SAFE and FREE from illegal alien crime, conflict, and chaos," Trump said in a social media post. "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." While border crossings have dropped dramatically, videos of masked federal agents chasing people across fields or grabbing them off city streets have horrified many Americans, and liberal leaders across the country say construction sites, farms and some entire neighborhoods are falling silent as undocumented workers stay home to avoid detention. Some critics accused Trump of causing chaos with ICE raids, then using the community response to justify even harsher measures. On June 19, federal immigration agents were briefly blocked at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles by protesters trying to stop detentions. Trump remains undeterred and is pushing Congress to pass a funding measure that would allow him to hire 10,000 new ICE agents, 5,000 more customs officers, and 3,000 additional Border Patrol agents. Resistance to Trump immigration enforcement spreading Across the country, the impacts of Trump's aggressive policies are adding up: coffee shops are sharing tips on how to protect workers, advocates are tracking and reporting ongoing ICE raids to warn at-risk communities, and other groups are adopting resistance tactics that include surrounding ICE agents. In California, officials are even boosting food-bank funding to help people afraid to go grocery shopping as waves of anxiety sweep through immigrant communities. While Trump officials are targeting people living illegally in the United States, the detentions are also affecting the estimated 4.7 million households that have both legal and undocumented members, according to the nonprofit Center for Migration Studies. "People are living in fear," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said June 17 after ICE agents arrested New York City Comptroller Brad Lander as he was escorting a defendant from immigration court. ICE officials claimed Lander assaulted an agent, although video shows Lander appeared instead to have been manhandled by masked men as he demanded to see an arrest warrant. ICE agents have increasingly been detaining people going to court for scheduled immigration hearings, and are using a new Trump directive to detain people who would otherwise be protected from deportation. White House officials have suggested that other elected officials opposing Trump's immigration policies could also be arrested, and several members of Congress have recently been briefly detained or "manhandled" by federal agents, including California Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat. Immigrant rights experts worry what comes next Some immigration experts say Trump's approach reflects his administration's efforts to find ways to detain and deport people as quickly as possible, often at the cost of ignoring due process. "They're trying everything to see what they can get away with," said Prof. Michael Kagan, an immigration attorney and director of the immigration clinic at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. "They are being far more provocative with raids in the community and also explicitly targeting Democrats and Democratic politicians." Kagan said while many Trump voters backed him over his immigration enforcement plans, he believes a growing number of his supporters are concerned that enforcement has not primarily targeted violent criminals and gang members as promised. "It definitely seems that while there's a core of his supporters who love this, the majority of the public does not," Kagan said. Advocates decry broken trust with police Retired California police officer Diane Goldstein said she's been "appalled" to see the tactics ICE agents have been using against immigrant communities and some American citizens. Goldstein was a police lieutenant in the Los Angeles area and now is executive director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, a nonprofit that works with communities to help reform policing. Goldstein said the way ICE is acting risks erasing decades of hard-won bonds of trust between law enforcement and communities across the country, from the immigrants who are growing reluctant to call 911 for help to the ordinary Americans watching masked agents grab people without producing any identification or warrant. The New York City Bar Association on June 20 said letting agents obscure their identities with masks and other measures helps them evade accountability. "They are setting local law enforcement back on their heels after we have fought for years to engage with people," said Goldstein. "They're not policing in a constitutionally protected manner. We are disappearing people. We are even arresting U.S. citizens and disappearing them, and that is not what we do." She added: "We can't serve people unless they trust us. Having an angry community doesn't benefit either the community or our police officers. People think it's not going to impact them until it does." In a statement, the ACLU said Trump will continue to escalate his efforts unless reined in by the courts, Congress and the American public. "We have never experienced a moment like this in our lifetimes, when our troops are being turned against our communities, acting in the service of a military police state," the ACLU said. "These attacks are transparently about consolidating power, bringing critics to heel, and eliminating the space to fight back."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE field director defends agents after ramped-up enforcement, arrests of US citizens at Chicago immigration court protest
The head of Chicago's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office Tuesday defended the conduct and decorum of federal agents who have ramped up arrests of undocumented immigrants, which has incited clashes with elected officials, immigration advocates and protesters. On Monday, three U.S. citizens were detained by ICE after allegedly assaulting an officer in Chicago, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson. In an interview Tuesday with the Tribune, Samuel Olson, ICE's Chicago field office director, explained that 'the last thing (the agents) want to do is to have to arrest somebody who's assaulting them or impeding them from doing their jobs.' ICE released all three protesters Monday afternoon. Asked whether the protesters were charged, Olson said the arrests of the protesters are under investigation by the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois. 'It's a hard enough job that they have to worry about who the target is that they're arresting, whether that person might be assaultive or combative,' Olson said. The arrests of U.S. citizens caught immigration advocates by surprise, as pushback against increased immigration enforcement has only grown across the country. On Tuesday, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a mayoral candidate, was arrested for allegedly 'assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer' at immigration court, according to DHS. The arrest was captured on video that quickly went viral on social media. On Sunday, President Donald Trump sent out a directive to ramp up deportations further in Democrat-run cities. Immigration enforcement has increased at courts and offices in Chicago in recent weeks, with two immigrants from Colombia detained on Father's Day for showing up to their check-in appointments. At a City Hall news conference Tuesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered an implicit warning against Trump's latest threat to crack down on Chicago demonstrators next. 'I think it's important that the president respects the Constitution. If you're asking me if this president is going to work with city leaders, it's clear that he's not interested in doing that,' Johnson told reporters when asked if he's heard from the federal government. Olson said the ICE agents were acting in their rights to arrest the protesters Monday because they are law enforcement officers who are sworn to uphold administrative immigration law, and who can also enforce federal criminal law. He emphasized that agents undergo quarterly training on defensive tactics and firearms operations. Many agents hail from Chicago or the surrounding area, and Olson noted they 'have deep ties to the community.' 'They're trying to ensure public safety of the same communities that they're living in,' he said. The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois decried ICE's arrest of U.S. citizens. 'The presence of unidentified, federal officers conducting arrests and detentions — while heavily armed — undermines the public's ability to ensure that law enforcement is acting in a legal and constitutional fashion and runs the risk of further violence,' Ed Yonhka, ACLU's director of communications and public policy, said in a statement. On Monday around 9 a.m., about a dozen protesters stood outside immigration court at 55 E. Monroe St., according to Bianca Paiz, who was on her way to work. ICE agents entering the building, then started to take the three individuals into custody, Paiz recounted. The immigration agents wore masks and didn't identify themselves, she said. Paiz said the protesters did not resist arrest, and that the agents handcuffed them before forcing them into an unmarked vehicle. As someone who has participated in civil disobedience, she called the arrests 'alarming.' ICE transported the protesters to a different federal building on West Ida B. Wells Drive in the Loop. Two of the individuals were released about three hours later, according to protesters. The third protester was released from the building around 5 p.m. after worried family members alerted local officials about the detention. In a statement, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said ICE officers 'are facing a 413% increase in assaults against them.' 'ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law,' she said. 'And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' While the last protester was detained, family members waited outside the federal court building in the Loop for hours. Their calls weren't going through, and they weren't sure if ICE had provided legal assistance. They declined to share their names until they had spoken to an attorney. Later that afternoon, two members of Mayor Johnson's staff arrived to offer support. At one point, the protester's family attempted to speak with the security guards inside the building, but they were told to leave. As the day wore on, they stood on the sidewalk outside, waiting for news. After the protester came out of the building, they cried and hugged. The protester declined to comment further about the arrest. ICE's Chicago field office director, Olson, said Tuesday that agents do not intend to arrest U.S. citizens. He declined to speculate on future enforcement actions, such as sending the National Guard to Chicago to assist with immigration enforcement. Over the course of the 20-minute interview, he defended agents who wore masks during immigration enforcement actions, saying some fear for their safety and the safety of their families, and went over the enforcement removal operations he oversees in the Chicago region. The ICE field office covers Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas. 'There's a lot of hate being spewed at my officers,' Olson said. 'It's a little frustrating.' A 20-year ICE veteran, Olson said he's never seen so much public doubt about the agency's legitimacy. He emphasized that officers receive extensive training — including basic Spanish courses — and said certified interpreters are available to explain individuals' rights. Allegations of misconduct are handled by ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility and may be escalated to the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, he said. Olson said his office oversees a 'multitude of targets' across several states, with a focus on detaining individuals who pose safety risks or have final deportation orders. He emphasized that immigration detention is not punitive but meant to ensure court appearances, noting that detention space is limited and costly. ICE also coordinates with the Department of Justice and Citizenship and Immigration Services. 'When we're out there, some of the stuff that we're doing is oversimplified, and there's a lot more nuance to it,' he said. 'And there's just a lot bigger things going on in the background.' Chicago Tribune's Alice Yin and Caroline Kubzansky contributed.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Big Beautiful detentions: Top Democrats arrested, handcuffed and pushed to the ground under Trump administration; meet those caught in the crackdown
From left to right: Alex Padilla, Brad Lander and LaMonica McIver A rising number of Democratic officials are being arrested or charged in connection with immigration-related protests and defiance, as US President Donald Trump 's enforcement agenda triggers sharp criticism and growing concern among party leaders. Democrats argue the arrests show Trump is dragging the country's democracy to the edge. But for Trump's supporters, the images of defiant politicians in handcuffs are exactly what they wanted. Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to send military reinforcements to assist immigration enforcement in southern states and revive earlier workplace raids. Here's a breakdown of who's been detained or charged in recent weeks: Brad Lander: Arrested outside immigration court New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested Wednesday by federal agents outside an immigration court in Manhattan. Lander had reportedly been observing court proceedings when he linked arms with an immigrant facing detention. His peaceful act of protest was captured on camera and widely circulated. It has become one of the most symbolic arrests yet under Trump's revived crackdown on undocumented migrants. Lander's team insists the arrest was politically motivated. Alex Padilla: Removed from press event Senator Alex Padilla was dragged away in handcuffs from a Homeland Security press conference in Los Angeles last week after attempting to ask a question. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Het meest ontspannende boerderijspel van 2025. Geen installatie Taonga: la fattoria sull'isola Play Now Undo Though he was not arrested, the footage of his removal spread rapidly online. Days later, Padilla denounced Trump on the Senate floor, calling him a 'tyrant'. LaMonica McIver: Charged after ICE protest Representative LaMonica McIver was arrested on June 10 during a protest outside an ICE detention facility in Newark. She has been indicted for allegedly interfering with federal immigration officers. McIver, who had been protesting alongside Mayor Ras Baraka, is expected to plead not guilty. The case has attracted significant attention, especially since it follows a wave of protests in Democrat-run cities. Hannah Dugan: Judge indicted for obstruction Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested on April 25 and formally indicted on May 13. Federal prosecutors accuse her of attempting to help an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest. Dugan has pleaded not guilty. Her case has alarmed many in the legal community, raising concerns about judicial independence. Dugan has yet to publicly comment in detail, but her legal team has argued that her actions were misrepresented and that she did not break any laws. Ras Baraka: Mayor arrested at ICE facility Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on May 9 during a protest against immigration detentions at an ICE centre. He joined demonstrators in blocking the entrance to the facility before being taken into custody. The case against him was later dropped, but the event has fuelled tensions between local officials and federal agents. The Trump administration recently reversed course on earlier limits, saying it would again carry out raids on farms, hotels, meatpacking plants and restaurants. The Pentagon confirmed an additional 700 military personnel have been deployed to assist immigration efforts in Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Trump's team continues to dismiss the arrests as 'viral moment' attempts, but Democratic leaders see a deeper threat to democratic norms.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
ICE field director defends agents after ramped-up enforcement, recent arrests of U.S. citizens during protest outside Chicago immigration court
The head of Chicago's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office Tuesday defended the conduct and decorum of federal agents who have ramped up arrests of undocumented immigrants, which has incited clashes with elected officials, immigration advocates and protesters. On Monday, three U.S. citizens were detained by ICE after allegedly assaulting an officer in Chicago, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson. In an interview Tuesday with the Tribune, Samuel Olson, ICE's Chicago field office director, explained that 'the last thing (the agents) want to do is to have to arrest somebody who's assaulting them or impeding them from doing their jobs.' ICE released all three protesters Monday afternoon. Asked whether the protesters were charged, Olson said the arrests of the protesters are under investigation by the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois. 'It's a hard enough job that they have to worry about who the target is that they're arresting, whether that person might be assaultive or combative,' Olson said. The arrests of U.S. citizens caught immigration advocates by surprise, as pushback against increased immigration enforcement has only grown across the country. On Tuesday, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a mayoral candidate, was arrested for allegedly 'assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer' at immigration court, according to DHS. The arrest was captured on video that quickly went viral on social media. On Sunday, President Donald Trump sent out a directive to ramp up deportations further in Democrat-run cities. Immigration enforcement has increased at courts and offices in Chicago in recent weeks, with two immigrants from Colombia detained on Father's Day for showing up to their check-in appointments. At a City Hall news conference Tuesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered an implicit warning against Trump's latest threat to crack down on Chicago demonstrators next. 'I think it's important that the president respects the Constitution. If you're asking me if this president is going to work with city leaders, it's clear that he's not interested in doing that,' Johnson told reporters when asked if he's heard from the federal government. Olson said the ICE agents were acting in their rights to arrest the protesters Monday because they are law enforcement officers who are sworn to uphold administrative immigration law, and who can also enforce federal criminal law. He emphasized that agents undergo quarterly training on defensive tactics and firearms operations. Many agents hail from Chicago or the surrounding area, and Olson noted they 'have deep ties to the community.' 'They're trying to ensure public safety of the same communities that they're living in,' he said. The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois decried ICE's arrest of U.S. citizens. 'The presence of unidentified, federal officers conducting arrests and detentions — while heavily armed — undermines the public's ability to ensure that law enforcement is acting in a legal and constitutional fashion and runs the risk of further violence,' Ed Yonhka, ACLU's director of communications and public policy, said in a statement. On Monday around 9 a.m., about a dozen protesters stood outside immigration court at 55 E. Monroe St., according to Bianca Paiz, who was on her way to work. ICE agents entering the building, then started to take the three individuals into custody, Paiz recounted. The immigration agents wore masks and didn't identify themselves, she said. Paiz said the protesters did not resist arrest, and that the agents handcuffed them before forcing them into an unmarked vehicle. As someone who has participated in civil disobedience, she called the arrests 'alarming.' ICE transported the protesters to a different federal building on West Ida B. Wells Drive in the Loop. Two of the individuals were released about three hours later, according to protesters. The third protester was released from the building around 5 p.m. after worried family members alerted local officials about the a statement, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said ICE officers 'are facing a 413% increase in assaults against them.''ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law,' she said. 'And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.'While the last protester was detained, family members waited outside the federal court building in the Loop for hours. Their calls weren't going through, and they weren't sure if ICE had provided legal assistance. They declined to share their names until they had spoken to an attorney. Later that afternoon, two members of Mayor Johnson's staff arrived to offer support. At one point, the protester's family attempted to speak with the security guards inside the building, but they were told to leave. As the day wore on, they stood on the sidewalk outside, waiting for news. After the protester came out of the building, they cried and hugged. The protester declined to comment further about the arrest. ICE's Chicago field office director, Olson, said Tuesday that agents do not intend to arrest U.S. citizens. He declined to speculate on future enforcement actions, such as sending the National Guard to Chicago to assist with immigration enforcement. Over the course of the 20-minute interview, he defended agents who wore masks during immigration enforcement actions, saying some fear for their safety and the safety of their families, and went over the enforcement removal operations he oversees in the Chicago region. The ICE field office covers Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas. 'There's a lot of hate being spewed at my officers,' Olson said. 'It's a little frustrating.' A 20-year ICE veteran, Olson said he's never seen so much public doubt about the agency's legitimacy. He emphasized that officers receive extensive training — including basic Spanish courses — and said certified interpreters are available to explain individuals' of misconduct are handled by ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility and may be escalated to the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, he said his office oversees a 'multitude of targets' across several states, with a focus on detaining individuals who pose safety risks or have final deportation orders. He emphasized that immigration detention is not punitive but meant to ensure court appearances, noting that detention space is limited and costly. ICE also coordinates with the Department of Justice and Citizenship and Immigration Services.'When we're out there, some of the stuff that we're doing is oversimplified, and there's a lot more nuance to it,' he said. 'And there's just a lot bigger things going on in the background.'Chicago Tribune's Alice Yin and Caroline Kubzansky contributed.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trump reverses course on ICE raids at farms, hotels, restaurants
On one end was Brooke Rollins, Trump's Agricultural secretary, who relayed the farming industry's concerns to Trump about losing workers because of the president's mass deportations. But Stephen Miller, a deputy White House chief of staff and a top architect of Trump's immigration agenda, opposed the carveouts for certain industries, the Post reported. More: Trump vows changes to immigration crackdown to protect migrant farmers, hotel workers "The President has been incredibly clear. There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE's efforts," Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at DHS, said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safe guard public safety, national security and economic stability," she added. "These operations target illegal employment networks that undermine American workers, destabilize labor markets and expose critical infrastructure to exploitation." More: 'Wave of panic': Businesses are in crosshairs of Trump immigration crackdown Trump promised changes to protect migrants in the farming, hotel and leisure industries in a June 12 Truth Social post that acknowledged ICE officers have expanded arrests beyond just migrants convicted of violent crimes, who Trump officials have said are the primary targets of raids and deportations. "Our farmers are being hurt badly," Trump said in remarks later that day, echoing the concerns raised by Rollins. "You know, they have very good workers. They've worked for them for 20 years. They're not citizens, but they've turned out to be, you know, great." More: Illegal border crossings at record lows as Trump crackdown spreads Trump's new posture seemed to undermine his long-touted policy of mass deportations, which was a hallmark of his 2024 campaign. About 42% of farm workers in the United States between 2020 and 2022 lacked legal status, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. According to the Post, an DHS official sent an email June 12 telling agents to "hold on all worksite enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants and operating hotels." But over the weekend, ICE and the agency's Homeland Security Investigations division started learning that the new policy would be reversed. ICE officials confirmed in a June 16 call to agency leaders that they must continue immigration raids at farms, hotels and restaurants. Democratic critics of Trump's hardline immigration agenda mocked Trump's shifting positions. "Looks like Stephen Miller is the boss, after all. Trump got big footed by his own staff. Pathetic," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a post on X. A White House official confirmed the changed course, telling USA TODAY that anyone in the United States illegally is at risk of deportation. More: President Trump orders ICE to expand deportations in large Democrat-run cities Three days after Trump announced the short-lived carveouts for certain migrants, Trump on June 15 directed ICE officials to ramp up efforts to detain and deport migrants from large Democratic-run cities. It marked an escalation of his crackdown on illegal immigration despite millions of demonstrators rallying against the policy during recent "No Kings" protests across the country. In a post on Truth Social, Trump challenged ICE officers to "do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History." He called on them to increase their activites in cities led by Democrats, singling out Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. A Trump administration budget document published last week said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aimed to deport 1 million immigrants per year, according to Reuters. ICE arrested more than 100,000 people suspected of violating immigration law from January 20 to the first week of June, according to the White House. The figure amounts to an average of 750 arrests per day - double the average over the past decade. Still, the pace of arrests remains far short of what Trump would need to deport millions of people. In late May, Miller set a quota for at least 3,000 arrests per day and told ICE leadership they should target anyone without legal status. Contributing: Reuters Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
