Trump deportation drive targets Democrat cities

Donald Trump has directed federal authorities to ramp up deportation efforts in Democratic-led cities, doubling down on a politicised anti-immigration drive after protests in Los Angeles.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents guard a migrant detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

US President Donald Trump on Sunday directed federal authorities to ramp up deportation efforts in Democratic-led cities, doubling down on a politicised anti-immigration drive after major protests in Los Angeles.

“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 said on his Truth Social platform.

“These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Centre,” he claimed, citing debunked right-wing conspiracy theories that undocumented immigrants were voting in US elections in significant numbers.

Mr Trump has made deporting undocumented immigrants a key priority for his second term, after successfully campaigning against an alleged “invasion” by criminals.

Raids by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in Los Angeles have sparked days of mainly peaceful protests, though they have seen sporadic violence at times.

Mr Trump has pounced on the violent incidents to deploy 4000 National Guards and 700 marines to the Democrat-led city, against the wishes of local and state authorities.

California has sued to regain control of the National Guardsmen from Mr Trump, arguing he overstepped his authority.

Mayor Karen Bass on Sunday said an overnight curfew put in place last week to stop vandalism and looting at the protests would be extended “a couple more days”.

She described the fear and anger that had taken hold in the heavily Latino city over the immigration raids.

“People are afraid to leave their homes,” Ms Bass said, adding that the raids had at times felt “indiscriminate”.

Mr Trump made a litany of grievances against “sick” Democrats, including charges that they “believe in Open Borders, Transgender for Everybody, and Men playing in Women’s Sports”.

He said he wanted “our Brave Officers to know that REAL Americans are cheering you on every day.

“To ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, the Patriots at Pentagon and the State Department, you have my unwavering support. Now go, GET THE JOB DONE!” he wrote.

AFP