Fact Check: Trump's mass deportation plan targets even legal immigrants.

Fact Check: "Trump's mass deportation plan targets even legal immigrants."

What We Know

During Donald Trump's second presidency, his administration's immigration policy has been described as "hardline" and characterized by a mass deportation campaign that significantly impacted millions of immigrants through detentions and expulsions. Reports indicate that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiated raids targeting sanctuary cities, resulting in the detention and deportation of numerous individuals, some of whom were legal immigrants (source-1).

In February 2025, it was reported that ICE planned to locate over 600,000 individuals who had entered the U.S. as children without their parents, many of whom could have been legal residents or had legal status (source-1). Furthermore, Trump's campaign promises included carrying out "the largest domestic deportation operation in American history," which raised concerns about the potential targeting of legal immigrants (source-5).

Analysis

The claim that Trump's mass deportation plan targets even legal immigrants is partially true. While the administration's policies primarily focused on undocumented immigrants, the broad scope of the deportation strategy and the aggressive tactics employed have indeed led to situations where legal immigrants were also affected. For instance, the raids on sanctuary cities did not exclusively target undocumented individuals, which raises the possibility that legal immigrants could be swept up in these operations (source-1).

However, it is essential to note that the primary focus of Trump's deportation efforts has been on undocumented immigrants. Reports indicate that the administration's policies have been criticized for their potential to create a climate of fear among immigrant communities, including those who are legally residing in the U.S. (source-3). The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has highlighted that the mass deportation strategy could inadvertently impact legal immigrants due to the aggressive nature of enforcement actions (source-5).

The reliability of the sources varies; while government reports and reputable news outlets provide factual accounts of the policies, some sources may exhibit bias based on their political leanings. For instance, the ACLU is known for its advocacy against Trump’s immigration policies, which could influence its portrayal of the situation (source-5).

Conclusion

The verdict on the claim that "Trump's mass deportation plan targets even legal immigrants" is Partially True. While the primary focus of Trump's deportation efforts has been on undocumented immigrants, the aggressive tactics and broad scope of the policies have indeed led to situations where legal immigrants could also be affected. This duality in the impact of the policies supports the claim, albeit with the caveat that the primary intention may not have been to target legal immigrants specifically.

Fact Check: Trump's mass deportation plan targets even legal immigrants.