United States President, Donald Trump, has said that the ongoing immigration raids across the country have not gone far enough, despite widespread protests and allegations of human rights abuses.
In a CBS “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday, Trump defended the aggressive operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying they should be intensified.
The interview, recorded Friday, was his first with the network since CBS reached a $16 million settlement with him over a lawsuit related to a 2024 pre-election interview with his Democratic rival, former Vice President Kamala Harris.
When asked by host Norah O’Donnell whether ICE raids had “gone too far,” the 79-year-old president responded, “I think they haven’t gone far enough.”
He further alleged that “liberal judges” appointed by former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden had “held back” his administration’s immigration efforts, according to an excerpt shared on X.
O’Donnell highlighted reports of ICE officers using forceful tactics—such as tackling suspects, deploying tear gas in neighborhoods, and smashing car windows, before asking, “You’re okay with those tactics?”
“Yeah, because you have to get the people out,” Trump replied.
Since reclaiming the presidency in January, Trump has made large-scale deportations a central part of his administration’s agenda, echoing promises from his 2024 campaign.
The surge in ICE operations has sparked protests and unrest, particularly in Democratic-controlled cities where federal agents have been heavily deployed.
To reinforce these actions, Trump has sought to use National Guard troops to assist immigration officers and secure federal facilities, moves that have triggered legal challenges from local governments accusing him of overreaching his powers.
While National Guard deployments have already taken place in Los Angeles, similar efforts in Portland and Chicago remain stalled following temporary federal court injunctions.
