Trump Defends Immigration Crackdown, Says US Raids ‘Haven’t Gone Far Enough’

U.S. President Donald Trump has defended the ongoing nationwide immigration raids that have drawn widespread criticism, insisting that enforcement operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “haven’t gone far enough.”

Trump made the remarks in an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes”, which aired Sunday. The interview, conducted on Friday, marked his first appearance on the network since CBS agreed to a $16 million settlement with him over a lawsuit stemming from a 2024 pre-election interview with his then-Democratic rival, Kamala Harris.

When asked by interviewer Norah O’Donnell whether the ICE raids had “gone too far,” Trump, 79, rejected the suggestion.

“I think they haven’t gone far enough,” he said.

He accused “liberal judges” appointed by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden of obstructing immigration enforcement, claiming their rulings had “held back” federal operations.

O’Donnell pressed him about reports showing ICE agents tackling suspected immigrants, using tear gas in residential areas, and breaking car windows during arrests.

“You’re okay with those tactics?” she asked.

“Yeah, because you have to get the people out,” Trump responded.

Advertisement

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has intensified efforts to carry out mass deportations — a central promise of his 2024 campaign.

The expanded ICE operations have sparked protests and legal challenges in several cities, particularly in Democratic-led states, where the administration has deployed what it calls “surges of agents” to enforce federal immigration laws.

Trump has also authorized the National Guard to assist ICE in certain cities and to protect immigration facilities — a move that has prompted lawsuits from local officials, who argue that the president has exceeded his constitutional powers.

So far, National Guard units have been deployed in Los Angeles, while similar efforts in Portland and Chicago have been temporarily blocked by federal courts.

Despite the backlash, Trump has maintained that the crackdown is essential to restoring “law and order” and securing U.S. borders.

Opinion Nigeria News