Fact Check: "President Donald Trump stated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials should aim to achieve the 'single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.'"
What We Know
On June 15, 2025, President Donald Trump directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities. In a social media post, he stated that officials should "do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History" (AP News). This directive came in response to protests against his administration's immigration policies, particularly in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where he claimed "Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside" (NPR).
Trump's rhetoric around mass deportation has been a consistent theme throughout his political career, especially during his 2024 campaign, where he reiterated his commitment to launching "the largest deportation operation in the history of our country" if reelected (NPR). His administration's past efforts to ramp up deportations faced significant hurdles, including bureaucratic challenges and opposition from Congress, which limited the effectiveness of his policies (NPR).
Analysis
The claim that Trump stated ICE should aim for the "single largest Mass Deportation Program in History" is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The original statement was made in a social media post, which is a direct form of communication from the President, thus lending it a high degree of reliability. The Associated Press, NPR, and other news outlets reported on this directive, confirming the context and content of Trump's statement (AP News, NPR, HuffPost).
While Trump's intentions and the feasibility of such a mass deportation program are debated, the specific wording of his directive is clear and unambiguous. Critics of the plan, including former ICE officials, have pointed out the logistical and financial challenges involved in executing such a large-scale operation, suggesting that while the goal may be stated, the practical implementation remains questionable (NPR). This discrepancy between Trump's ambitious claims and the operational realities faced by immigration authorities does not negate the truth of the claim itself but rather highlights the complexities involved in immigration enforcement.
Conclusion
The claim that President Donald Trump stated that ICE officials should aim to achieve the "single largest Mass Deportation Program in History" is True. This assertion is directly supported by Trump's own statements and corroborated by multiple reputable news sources. The context surrounding the claim reflects ongoing political tensions regarding immigration policy in the United States, particularly in relation to Democratic-led cities.
Sources
- Trump directs ICE to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities ...
- Trump's mass deportation plan faces hurdles and history
- Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic ...
- Trump promised the 'largest deportation' in US history. Here's how he ...
- President Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run ...
- Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic- ...
- Trump Orders ICE To Increase Deportations In Dem Run Cities - HuffPost
- ICE to expand deportation efforts in Democratic-led cities