On July 18, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared that President Donald Trump “will not rest until every illegal alien criminal is deported,” pledging to fully reverse what she called “Joe Biden’s invasion.” Speaking at a press briefing, Leavitt emphasized the administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, highlighting the arrest of over 158,000 undocumented immigrants since January 2025. The statement aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to secure the border and prioritize public safety through mass deportations.
Leavitt pointed to recent ICE operations, including the arrest of a Mexican national convicted of child sexual assault in Colorado and a Jamaican citizen convicted of rape in Massachusetts. She framed these actions as dismantling the “open border policies” of the Biden era, which she claimed allowed 15 million illegal entries. The administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport nearly 200 alleged Tren de Aragua gang members, a move Leavitt said saves “countless American lives.” Trump’s executive orders, including ending catch-and-release and resuming border wall construction, underscore this hardline stance.
Critics, including the ACLU, argue the policy paints all undocumented immigrants as criminals, noting that only 0.5% of 1.8 million immigration court cases last year involved non-immigration crimes. They warn of economic disruptions, with deportations potentially costing $967 billion, and cite due process violations, as seen in the wrongful deportation of Maryland’s Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Democrats call the rhetoric inflammatory, risking community trust.
Supporters, however, cheer the focus on removing violent offenders, with Leavitt citing cases like the murder of Rachel Morin to justify the urgency. As Trump’s team pushes for more ICE funding, the debate over immigration enforcement intensifies, shaping a polarized national discourse.
