Kathrine Frich
Donald Trump returned to the White House with a hardline promise to crack down on illegal immigration.
During his 2025 campaign, mass deportations were central to his message, energising supporters and defining his platform.
Once in office, that approach was rolled out aggressively, but it quickly triggered backlash and controversy across the country.
Behind the scenes
First Lady Melania Trump was involved in talks with President Donald Trump and senior advisers about reassessing the administration’s immigration crackdown, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The discussions followed mounting criticism of enforcement actions led by federal agencies in several major US cities.
According to the report, Trump expressed concern about the negative media coverage surrounding the policy and its impact on public opinion.
Melania Trump was said to be among those who encouraged a reconsideration of how the crackdown was being carried out.
Operation fallout
The debate intensified after a major enforcement push in Minneapolis in January ended in tragedy.
The operation, known as Operation Metro Surge, resulted in the deaths of two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, sparking widespread outrage.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who had described the victims as “domestic terrorists,” initially held crisis talks with the president but was later dismissed.
The events contributed to a broader reassessment within the administration about the direction of immigration enforcement.
Policy rethink
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump concluded that the phrase “mass deportation” had become politically damaging.
He reportedly urged his team to shift focus toward targeting criminals rather than conducting large-scale operations that could trigger unrest.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is now said to be leading efforts to reshape the approach ahead of upcoming midterm elections.
Border official Tom Homan has been tasked with emphasizing what sources described as more routine arrests of criminal suspects.
Targets and tensions
The earlier strategy had been driven in part by adviser Stephen Miller, who reportedly pushed for 3,000 detentions per day in pursuit of a goal of 1 million deportations in 2025.
However, the Department of Homeland Security fell short of that target, with arrests now averaging around 1,200 per day, down from a peak of 1,500.
Despite reports of a shift, the White House has denied any major policy change.
“Nobody is changing the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda,” said spokeswoman Abigail Jackson.
“President Trump’s highest priority has always been the deportation of illegal alien criminals who endanger American communities.”
New leadership
Meanwhile, Trump’s nominee to replace Noem, Senator Markwayne Mullin, faced a contentious confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
His past remarks about Senator Rand Paul resurfaced during the session, leading to a tense exchange.
Mullin has pledged to take a different approach if confirmed, including closer cooperation with local law enforcement and fewer confrontations with activists.
A full Senate vote on his nomination is expected in the coming days.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, The Independant.
