Don’t miss the full story from our staff writers, whose reportage is the basis of this article.
President Trump has issued new directives to Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding his mass deportation program, instructing the agency to focus enforcement efforts on major cities while giving America’s “heartland” regions a reprieve. This strategic shift comes amid growing concerns from farmers who rely heavily on undocumented workers and are experiencing labor shortages as immigrants avoid going to work due to fear of arrest.
Mr. Trump announced on Truth Social that ICE should concentrate on “America’s largest cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York” and focus particularly on “crime ridden and deadly inner cities” and sanctuary cities. He emphasized that sanctuary cities don’t exist in the heartland, suggesting rural areas don’t require the same level of enforcement attention.
The announcement follows reports that ICE had paused worksite enforcement at agricultural operations, restaurants, and hotels. This pause received mixed reactions from various groups. The American Business Immigration Coalition praised the decision as protecting farmers and business owners while focusing on removing violent criminals rather than disrupting hardworking communities. However, the United Farm Workers expressed skepticism, arguing that Border Patrol and ICE continue to conduct sweeps in farm worker communities.
Immigration advocacy groups view Mr. Trump’s announcement as an admission that undocumented immigrants have become central to the U.S. economy. Vanessa Cardenas from America’s Voice suggested that Republican members of Congress pressured the president to modify his approach due to economic concerns, though she noted this still leaves migrants without full protection.
The directive highlights a fundamental tension in the president’s immigration policy between his promise of the “single largest mass deportation program in history” and the practical challenges of implementation. Current ICE data shows that approximately 75% of people in custody have criminal convictions or pending charges, a decrease from over 90% during the Biden administration.
Despite the enforcement efforts, ICE has struggled to meet deportation targets. The agency has averaged 580-700 daily arrests, far below the 3,000 daily arrests needed to deport one million people annually. Meanwhile, ICE officers face increased resistance, with assaults against them spiking over 400%. Federal prosecutors have filed charges against residents who have attempted to interfere with ICE operations.
The enforcement climate has created widespread fear in immigrant communities, with families avoiding work, school, and religious services. President Trump concluded his announcement by expressing support for ICE officers and reiterating his commitment to making communities “safe and free from illegal alien crime, conflict, and chaos.”
Read more: Trump upends ’mass deportation’ order, tells ICE to go easy on ’heartland’
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.