Context:

President Donald Trump has instructed federal immigration officials to focus on deportations in Democratic-run cities following protests against his administration's immigration policies. Trump emphasized the need for ICE to enhance efforts in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, aiming for a historic mass deportation program. The directive comes after increased enforcement measures and a statement from Stephen Miller, highlighting a target of 3,000 arrests per day. Concurrently, Trump has ordered a pause on immigration raids in industries such as agriculture and hospitality due to concerns about their economic impact. Nationwide protests, some leading to police interventions, have occurred in response to these policies, with Trump crediting the National Guard's presence for maintaining order in Los Angeles during demonstrations.

Dive Deeper:

• President Trump's directive to prioritize deportations in Democratic-run cities follows significant protests against his administration's immigration policies, which have erupted in major cities like Los Angeles.

• Trump's social media posts emphasized the need for ICE to maximize efforts in detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants, particularly targeting cities with large immigrant populations such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.

• Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, outlined a goal for ICE to increase daily arrests to 3,000, a substantial rise from the previous average of 650 arrests per day, marking a significant escalation in enforcement.

• The Trump administration has temporarily halted immigration raids in sectors like agriculture, restaurants, and hotels due to concerns about the economic repercussions of aggressive enforcement on these industries.

• Protests, predominantly peaceful, have arisen across the country in opposition to federal immigration enforcement raids, with police using tear gas and other measures to control crowds in cities like Los Angeles and Portland.

• As Trump traveled to the G7 Summit, he attributed the peaceful nature of Los Angeles protests to the deployment of National Guard troops, suggesting their presence was crucial in maintaining order.

• The administration's focus on Democratic-controlled cities for increased deportation efforts has sparked widespread debate and criticism, reflecting the contentious nature of Trump's immigration policies.