Latest news with #IllegalAliens
Mint
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Trump jokes about immigration status of flagpole workers at White House: ‘Any illegal immigrants?'
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday brought his hardline immigration rhetoric directly to the White House lawn, jokingly questioning construction workers who had just installed two towering flagpoles about whether any of them were undocumented immigrants. During a press conference at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Trump was asked about his administration's deportation efforts. In response, he said: 'We're taking them out by the thousands. Murderers, drug dealers, people that are mentally insane, from insane asylums.' He then turned to the group of hat-wearing workers standing behind him. 'Do we have anybody here who's a member of — no, I don't think so. You've known these people for a long time?' Trump said before asking, 'Any illegal immigrants?' When the workers shook their heads, some smiling awkwardly, Trump added: 'If there were, we'll find out.' 'Your whole life will be destroyed because of this press conference. They'll destroy these people. I didn't want to tell them that before they stood up,' he said with a smirk, before reassuring them, 'Don't worry, I think you're gonna be OK.' The remarks came after the workers erected two massive 88-foot-tall flagpoles — one on the North Lawn and another on the South Lawn — at Trump's request. On Tuesday, Trump announced the project on social media, calling the new installations 'a gift from me to the White House.' 'These are the most magnificent poles made – They are tall, tapered, rust proof, rope inside the pole, and of the highest quality,' Trump wrote, adding that the White House 'was always missing' such flagpoles. Trump's quip came amid a broader push by his administration to ramp up immigration enforcement. Over the weekend, the president directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to escalate operations. 'In order to achieve this, we 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 posted online. Trump has vowed to launch the largest deportation effort in US history if re-elected, part of his 2025 immigration agenda that includes mass raids and expanded detention.
14 hours ago
- Politics
ICE agents denied entry to LA's Dodger Stadium amid anti-immigration enforcement protests
As anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests continue in Los Angeles, dozens of federal ICE agents were seen near Dodger Stadium on Thursday, in what appeared to be a staging area, but were denied entry to the famed ballpark. The agents were dressed in tactical gear and gathered on the street that leads into the stadium in the Elysian Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The official Los Angeles Dodgers social media account took to X on Thursday, saying that the agents were not allowed to enter the stadium grounds. "This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization. Tonight's game will be played as scheduled," the organization said. The Department of Homeland Security responded on X, saying the officers' appearance at the stadium "had nothing to do with the Dodgers." "CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement," DHS said. A small group of protesters was also seen near the stadium on Thursday as demonstrations in the city, which began on June 6, continue for nearly two weeks. The Dodgers organization had previously been facing growing criticism from protesters for not speaking out about the immigration raids that have been frequent in Los Angeles. "The largest economic engine in this area is silent! Wake up! Do better! We know you can!" Raul Claros of California Rising said at a news conference, pointing to Dodger Stadium behind him. The demonstration comes after reports of a string of ICE raids in Los Angeles on Thursday, including one outside of a nearby Home Depot on Sunset Boulevard earlier in the day. Los Angeles City Council District 1 workers alerted the Los Angeles Police Department of the ICE staging near Dodger Stadium, local officials told ABC News' Los Angeles station, KABC. The Police Department then notified the Dodgers organization, which allegedly told the ICE agents to leave the property, according to KABC, however, small group of federal agents were still at the location shortly after 11 a.m. This comes as President Donald Trump has recently instructed ICE officers to do "all in their power" to oversee the largest mass deportation program in history. "In order to achieve this, we 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," Trump wrote in a lengthy social media post over the weekend. In the first 100 days of the second term of the Trump administration, ICE made over 66,000 arrests, according to the federal agency as deportation efforts have since continued.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Undeterred by protests, Trump tells ICE to step up deportations in Democratic-run cities
President Donald Trump has directed federal immigration officials to target deportations in cities run by Democrats, including Boston, after millions of people turned out in protest against the Republican White House's policies over the weekend. In a post to his Truth Social website on Sunday, Trump said he was ordering U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to 'do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.' 'In order to achieve this, we 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 continued. '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,' Trump wrote. The social media post appears to codify remarks by senior White House aide Stephen Miller, who earlier said that ICE agents would aim for at least 3,000 arrests a day, up from around 650 a day from the earlier part of Trump's second term, according to The Associated Press. In Massachusetts, ICE announced earlier this month that it had arrested almost 1,500 people who were in the country illegally during its monthlong 'Operation Patriot.' The Bay State 'is a safer place today thanks to the hard work and determination of the men and women of ICE and our federal partners. Working together, we were able to arrest almost 1,500 illegal aliens throughout the Commonwealth, most of whom had significant criminality in the United States or abroad,' ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde, said in a statement. Those who were detained included Milford High School student Marcelo Gomes da Silva. The 18-year-old was picking up some of his volleyball teammates on Saturday morning when four vehicles driven by ICE representatives surrounded his car. Agents jumped out and detained Gomes, MassLive previously reported. He has since been released from custody. Read More: 'A lie': Interview with released Milford teen casts doubt on ICE statements on arrest Trump did not mention Boston by name in his social media post. But Mayor Michelle Wu made nationwide headlines for the city's immigration policies after she testified before a congressional committee earlier this year. Trump claimed Sunday, without offering evidence, that "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." In Boston over the weekend, anti-Trump protesters folded their demonstrations in with the city's Pride parade, which had already been scheduled for Saturday, urging groups to march in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. 'This Pride is different,' Ian Wallace-Moyer, of Jamaica Plain, told MassLive. 'It does feel, as much as it is a day of joy and celebration, it is a day of resilience. And I think everything has an undercurrent of fear and apprehension for what the future holds.' In his social media post, Trump appeared to target those Pride marches, arguing that '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! There is something wrong with them. That is why they believe in Open Borders, Transgender for Everybody, and Men playing in Women's Sports." He added that he wanted '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, he continued, he had 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. Our Federal Government will continue to be focused on the REMIGRATION of Aliens to the places from where they came, and preventing the admission of ANYONE who undermines the domestic tranquility of the United States.' 'To ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, the Patriots at Pentagon and the State Department, you have my unwavering support. Now go, GET THE JOB DONE! DJT' Trump concluded. But even with that harder line, the White House has directed immigration officers to pause arrests at farms, restaurants and hotels, after Trump expressed alarm about the impact aggressive enforcement is having on those industries, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter who spoke only on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press. Federal judge pushes decision over Trump admin barring Harvard foreign students Trump administration considers adding 36 countries to travel ban New poll shows Trump's approval is high on this major policy issue Harvard's Monday court date will be important for international students. Here's why Rock icon mocked for objecting to Trump using band's song without permission Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Any illegal immigrants?' Trump questions workers installing White House flagpoles
President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration policies made their way to the White House lawn on Wednesday, when he stopped to ask workers who helped install massive flagpoles at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. about their immigration status. The remarks, appearing to be made in jest, came after a reporter asked the president about his administration's deportation efforts. "We're taking them out by the thousands. Murderers, drug dealers, people that are mentally insane, from insane asylums," Trump began before turning to the row of hard hat-wearing construction workers standing behind him during the press conference. "Do we have anybody here who's a member of -- no, I don't think so. You've known these people for a long time?" he asked. "Any illegal immigrants?" MORE: Trump doubles down on expanding deportations in America's biggest cities The construction workers shook their heads, with a few chuckling, when Trump added, "If there were, we'll find out." "Your whole life will be destroyed because of this press conference. They'll destroy these people. I didn't want to tell them that before they stood up," Trump said. "Don't worry, I think you're gonna be OK," the president told the workers. MORE: 'Nation of immigrants and a nation of laws': Obama speaks out about immigration The press conference on Wednesday came after the workers erected two 88-foot-tall flagpoles, one on the North Lawn and one on the South Lawn, at Trump's direction. Trump said in a social media post on Tuesday that the flagpoles were a gift from him to the White House, which he said "was always missing from this magnificent place." "These are the most magnificent poles made – They are tall, tapered, rust proof, rope inside the pole, and of the highest quality," Trump wrote. "Hopefully, they will proudly stand at both sides of the White House for many years to come!" Trump's comments come as the president has instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to do "all in their power" to oversee the largest mass deportation program in history. "In order to achieve this, we 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," Trump wrote in a lengthy social media post over the weekend.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities, undeterred by protests
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday directed federal immigration officials to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities, a move that comes after large protests erupted in Los Angeles and other major cities against the Trump administration's immigration policies. Trump in a social media posting called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials 'to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.' He added that to reach the goal officials '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.' Trump's declaration comes after weeks of increased enforcement, and after Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and main architect of Trump's immigration policies, said ICE officers would target at least 3,000 arrests a day, up from about 650 a day during the first five months of Trump's second term. At the same time, the Trump administration has directed immigration officers to pause arrests at farms, restaurants and hotels, after Trump expressed alarm about the impact aggressive enforcement is having on those industries, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter who spoke only on condition of anonymity. Protests over federal immigration enforcement raids have been flaring up around the country. Opponents of Trump's immigration policies took to the streets as part of the 'no kings' demonstrations Saturday that came as Trump held a massive parade in Washington for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. Saturday's protests were mostly peaceful. But police in Los Angeles used tear gas and crowd-control munitions to clear out protesters after the event ended. Officers in Portland, Oregon, also fired tear gas and projectiles to disperse a crowd that protested in front of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building well into the evening. Trump made the call for stepped up enforcement in Democratic-controlled cities on social media as he was making his way to the Group of Seven economic summit in Alberta, Canada. He suggested to reporters as he departed the White House for the G7 on Sunday evening that his decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles was the reason the protests in that city went peacefully. 'If we didn't have the National Guard on call and ready, they would rip Los Angeles apart,' Trump said. The shift also come as Trump is grappling with the impact his mass deportation effort is having on key industries that rely on workers in the country illegally. Trump posted on his Truth Social site Thursday that he heard from hotel, agriculture and leisure industries that his 'very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them' and promised that changes would be made . That same day Tatum King, an official with ICE's Homeland Security Investigations unit, wrote to regional leaders telling them to halt investigations of the agriculture industry, including meatpackers, as well as of restaurants and hotels, according to the U.S. official.
