Fact Check: "On June 15, 2025, President Donald Trump directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York."
What We Know
On June 15, 2025, President Donald Trump indeed directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to prioritize deportations from cities governed by Democratic leadership. This directive was made public through a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he emphasized the need for ICE to "do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History" (AP News). Trump specifically mentioned cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, stating that these areas are where "Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside" (USA Today). This announcement followed significant protests against his immigration policies, particularly in Los Angeles, which prompted him to deploy the National Guard to manage the situation (Axios).
Analysis
The claim that Trump directed ICE to focus on deportations in Democratic-run cities is supported by multiple credible sources. The Associated Press, USA Today, and Axios all reported on the same directive issued by Trump, highlighting the cities he specified and the context of increased protests against his administration's immigration enforcement (AP News, USA Today, Axios).
The reliability of these sources is generally high; they are established news organizations known for their journalistic standards. The Associated Press, for instance, is a well-respected wire service that provides news to many outlets, and USA Today is a widely read national newspaper. Axios is known for its concise reporting and analysis of current events.
However, while the sources are credible, it is important to note that Trump's comments were made in a politically charged environment, which could introduce bias in the interpretation of his directives. His framing of the issue—linking illegal immigration to Democratic cities and suggesting that these areas are exploiting illegal immigrants for political gain—reflects a broader narrative often used in his administration's immigration policy discussions (DW).
Moreover, Trump's directive came amid a backdrop of increased enforcement efforts by ICE, which had already seen a significant uptick in deportation activities prior to this announcement. His call for a "mass deportation program" aligns with his administration's long-standing focus on strict immigration enforcement (Le Monde).
Conclusion
The claim that President Donald Trump directed ICE to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, on June 15, 2025, is True. This assertion is substantiated by multiple reputable news sources that reported on the directive and the context surrounding it. The evidence indicates that Trump explicitly named these cities in his call for increased deportation efforts, reflecting his administration's ongoing immigration policies.
Sources
- Trump directs ICE to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities ...
- Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run big cities
- Trump orders ICE to hit Democrat-run cities with deportation blitz - Axios
- Trump orders ICE to expand deportations in Democratic cities
- Trump directs ICE to ramp up deportation efforts in Democratic cities ...
