Trump intensifies immigration enforcement to highlight 100th day in office
Going After the 'Sanctuary' Cities: Trump's Latest Crackdown
WASHINGTON - Brace yourself, America. The White House has announced a fresh wave of action against so-called 'sanctuary cities' that defy the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies. As the president inches closer to his first 100 days in office, it's time to name and shame these defiant cities.
Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, disclosed this plan to reporters on Monday. The president will sign an executive order, set to drop later that day, instructing officials to publish a list of jurisdictions obstructing federal immigration law enforcement. These cities will face public shaming, Leavitt assured.
Trump's stance on immigration has been a central point in his political career, with the issue inevitably playing a significant role in his election victory. Incomes soared under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, and the Republican leader seized the opportunity to capitalize on voter concerns about a supposed influx of criminal migrants.
But Trump's popularity has taken a hit since then, with over 40% of Americans reporting strong disapproval in a Washington Post-ABC survey. On Monday, Trump accused pollsters and news organizations of dishonesty—labeling their work as "fake news."
Despite the negative sentiment, Trump will be celebrating his achievements during his first 100-days in office. He claims successes in the economy, foreign policy, government efficiency, and migration control, among other areas. According to Leavitt, there has been a staggering 95% drop in encounters with undocumented migrants at the Mexico border in the 12 months following Trump's inauguration. The numbers, she declared, rose from 140,000 to a mere 7,000 during that period.
"America’s borders are now secure because of President Trump," Leavitt said enthusiastically. "He has restored the rule of law, enforced our immigration laws, and defended America's sovereignty."
Since the start of his term, Trump has been vocal about taking on the alleged hordes of rapists and murderers crossing the border, a message that resonates with voters worried about illegal immigration.
As part of this crusade, Republicans are aiming for 'sanctuary cities.' These cities typically forbid local officials from sharing information with federal agents about undocumented immigrants at risk of deportation. Four major cities—Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York—previously faced criticism for their immigration policies in Congress. All four have struggled to manage an influx of migrants from Mexico.
To counter this, Trump has deployed troops to the Mexican border, imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and labelled gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as terrorist organizations. But legal battles have ensued, with judges, rights groups, and Democrats accusing Trump of ignoring constitutional rights in his hasty attempts to deport migrants.
Some migrants have been arrested under the Alien Enemies Act, previously invoked only during wartime, on charges of gang membership. These individuals were then taken to El Salvador without facing a judge or being charged with a crime. Trump has even hinted at sending American citizens convicted of violent crimes to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison.
Trump's point man on border security, Tom Homon, insists that "we have the most secure border in the history this nation." However, critics point out that deportations rates under Trump have trailed those under Biden, despite the president's promises of mass deportations. The government has yet to release comprehensive data, but the Migration Policy Institute estimates that the U.S. is on track to deport around half a million people this year—less than the 685,000 deportations recorded under Biden in 2024.
Homon defends the government's actions, arguing that comparisons between the administrations are misleading since Biden's deportation numbers included people removed at the border, and most of them are now being stopped before reaching U.S. soil.
Sources:[1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025-proclamation-ending- certain-restricted-funds-sanctuary-cities/[2] https://www.courthousenews.com/san-francisco-philadelphia-win-migration-funding-fight-ag-session/[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/us/politics/sanctuary-cities-denver-trump.html[4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-to-announce-immigration-enforcement-actions-atomearly-morning-briefing/2025/04/28/8ec0b9e6-a919-11ea-8821-1c4a3a754a97_story.html[5] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-deportation-numbers-fall-under-trump-administration-reversing-obama-era-trend/
- "Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced that the president will sign an executive order, targeting 'sanctuary cities' that obstruct federal immigration law enforcement."
- "Trump's hardline immigration policies, including his pursuit of 'sanctuary cities,' have been a central point in his political career, with the issue playing a significant role in his election victory."
- "In response to the 'sanctuary cities' issue, Trump has taken various actions, such as deploying troops to the Mexican border, imposing tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and labelling gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as terrorist organizations."
- "Despite Trump's efforts, legal battles have ensued, with judges, rights groups, and Democrats accusing him of ignoring constitutional rights in his hasty attempts to deport migrants."
