President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, claiming they haven't gone far enough in addressing illegal immigration.
During an interview on CBS's 60 Minutes this past Sunday, Trump stated, "No, I don't think they've gone far enough because we've been held back by the judges, the liberal judges appointed by former Presidents Biden and Obama."
The President staunchly defended ICE's aggressive tactics, arguing that such measures are necessary to remove individuals from the country, particularly those he characterized as "killers," after watching footage of ICE operations involving tear gas in residential areas.
"We need to start with a policy," Trump asserted, "and that policy should be: you came into the country illegally, you're going to leave."
Trump estimated that around 25 million undocumented immigrants remain in the United States, thus refraining from declaring "mission accomplished."
When questioned about the deportation of essential workers and the resulting economic impact in several states, Trump initially described many as "criminal gardeners," before acknowledging his own need for "gardeners and farmers more than anyone."
Additionally, it was reported on Sunday that ICE plans to implement an artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to track and analyze the social media activity of millions of users, aiming to identify immigrants through their posts, images, and digital locations.
Since President Trump ended the humanitarian parole program, which provided legal work permits to citizens from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, thousands of immigrants have lost their jobs in the U.S. This decision has directly impacted sectors reliant on foreign labor.
Individuals like María, a 48-year-old Nicaraguan who earned $13 an hour cleaning schools in Florida, are now left without income or the ability to support their children.
Trump's immigration crackdown, intended to curb what he calls an "invasion" at the southern border and to protect American jobs, is affecting both unskilled laborers and highly skilled foreign professionals.
The repercussions are twofold: mass deportations and tighter legal immigration restrictions are decreasing the workforce in key sectors at a time when the economy is facing a slowdown in hiring.
Impact of Trump's Immigration Policies
How has Trump's immigration policy affected the U.S. labor market?
Trump's immigration policies have led to a decrease in the labor force, impacting sectors that rely heavily on immigrant workers, both unskilled and highly specialized.
What is the purpose of ICE's new AI system?
The AI system is designed to track and analyze social media activity to identify immigrants through their posts, images, and digital locations.
Who are most affected by the end of the humanitarian parole program?
The termination of the program has significantly affected immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua who relied on it for legal work permits in the U.S.