Trump Defends Forceful ICE Tactics, Blames Judges for Slowing His Deportation Drive- President Donald Trump is doubling down on his immigration enforcement agenda, defending the use of aggressive tactics by federal agents and accusing judges of standing in the way of his deportation plans. In a 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday, Trump said he remains committed to expanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the United States, insisting that current operations “haven’t gone far enough.”
Speaking with CBS News correspondent Norah O’Donnell, Trump was shown recent footage of ICE agents tackling suspects, breaking car windows, and using tear gas during arrests in residential neighborhoods. Asked whether those actions went too far, Trump rejected the criticism outright.
“No,” he said. “I think they haven’t gone far enough, because we’ve been held back by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and Obama.”
When pressed about whether he was comfortable with ICE officers using violent methods to detain immigrants, Trump replied, “Yeah, because you have to get the people out.” He added, “Many of them are murderers. Many of them are people that were thrown out of their countries because they were, you know, criminals.”
The comments drew sharp reactions from immigrant-rights advocates, who argue that the president’s rhetoric normalizes excessive force and paints all undocumented immigrants as dangerous. But for Trump, the exchange was a reaffirmation of a central campaign theme: that mass deportations and stricter border control are essential to restoring what he calls “law and order.”
Judicial Friction and Enforcement Limits
Trump’s frustration with the courts has been a recurring theme since his first term. During the interview, he accused “liberal judges” of obstructing his agenda and weakening the federal government’s ability to enforce immigration law. “We have the tools,” he said. “What we don’t have is the cooperation from the courts.”
In recent years, several federal judges have blocked or delayed deportation efforts on constitutional grounds, citing due process violations and humanitarian concerns. Trump’s renewed criticism suggests his administration may once again seek to bypass judicial oversight through executive action or emergency powers.
Contradictions in Enforcement Data
Despite Trump’s claim that his administration is targeting dangerous criminals, newly released internal ICE data shows that only a fraction of known offenders have been detained. According to the data, during the final months of the Biden administration and the first five months of Trump’s current term, ICE apprehended just 6% of undocumented immigrants known to have been convicted of homicide and 11% of those convicted of sexual assault.
The figures suggest that many of the people detained in recent raids were not violent offenders, contradicting Trump’s frequent assertion that deportations are focused on the “worst of the worst.” Critics say this reflects a broader pattern of casting all undocumented immigrants as threats, regardless of their individual circumstances or community ties.
Political and Human Fallout
Trump’s call for tougher enforcement comes as immigration remains one of the most polarizing issues in U.S. politics. Supporters view his stance as a necessary correction after years of what they see as lax border policy, while opponents warn that mass deportations could devastate families and communities.
Advocates have raised concerns about the human toll of aggressive raids — including family separations, mistaken arrests, and trauma within immigrant neighborhoods. Economists also warn that large-scale deportations could disrupt industries that rely heavily on undocumented labor, from agriculture to construction and hospitality.
Still, Trump has made it clear that he intends to press forward. “We have to start off with a policy,” he told O’Donnell. “The policy has to be, you came into the country illegally, you’re going to go out. We’re going to work with you, and you’re going to come back into our country legally.”
Looking Ahead
Trump’s statements signal an escalation in both tone and strategy as his administration renews its focus on enforcement. Plans for expanded ICE operations are reportedly underway, though officials acknowledge that such efforts are likely to face immediate court challenges.
Legal experts say the president’s latest remarks could foreshadow another round of clashes between the White House and the judiciary — a battle that has defined much of his approach to immigration policy.
For now, Trump appears undeterred. His message is clear: the deportation drive will continue, and the courts, in his view, are the only thing standing in its way.
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