Trump says US immigration raids 'haven't gone far enough'

President Donald Trump said federal immigration raids across the United States “haven’t gone far enough,” even as videos surfaced showing clashes between federal agents, immigrants, and protesters. Speaking on CBS’ 60 Minutes, Trump said, “I think they haven’t gone far enough because we’ve been held back by the judges, by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama.”

When asked about the use of force — including agents throwing people to the ground, breaking car windows, and deploying tear gas in residential areas — Trump defended the actions. “You have to get the people out,” he said, adding that many of those detained had criminal records.

Trump also suggested he could invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty military in cities. “If you had to send in the Army or you had to send in the Marines I’d do that in a heartbeat,” he said. “And no judge could challenge that.”


The Insurrection Act allows the president to send troops when local authorities are unable to maintain order. It was last used in 1992, when President George H.W. Bush sent forces to Los Angeles during the riots. Local and state officials said protests over Trump’s immigration policies remain under control.

The comments came after the administration expanded a program authorizing local police to assist in immigration enforcement. Nearly 16,000 officers in 40 states have joined, according to data reviewed by Bloomberg News. The program has increased arrests, particularly in Florida, but some police departments are hesitant to participate amid concerns of racial profiling, wrongful detentions, and political pressure on local law enforcement.