Trump Says Immigration Raids Should Be “Tougher,” Defends Escalating Enforcement Measures
According to AFP, U.S. President Donald Trump insisted that recent nationwide immigration raids were “not strong enough,” speaking in an interview aired November 2 on CBS’s 60 Minutes. The large-scale operations, which have triggered widespread protests and allegations of human rights abuses, have come under intense public scrutiny in recent weeks.
This marks Trump’s first appearance on CBS since Paramount agreed to pay a $16 million settlement related to a lawsuit involving the network’s pre-election interview with his 2024 rival, former Vice President Kamala Harris.
During the interview, host Norah O’Donnell asked whether the actions carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had gone “too far.” The 79-year-old president firmly rejected that characterization.
“No, I think they haven’t gone far enough,” Trump responded.
O’Donnell then referenced multiple documented incidents in which ICE personnel restrained suspects with force, deployed tear gas in residential neighborhoods, and shattered vehicle windows during arrests.
“Do you approve of those tactics?” the host pressed.
“Yes, because we need to remove these individuals from the country,” Trump replied, reiterating his administration’s firm stance on border enforcement.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has placed a sweeping deportation initiative at the center of his agenda—one of the defining themes of his 2024 presidential campaign.
Nationwide demonstrations opposing the intensified crackdowns have surged, especially in Democratic-led cities where the administration has sent additional enforcement teams.
The President has also attempted to activate National Guard units to support federal agents and secure detention centers, prompting several state and municipal governments to sue the administration for allegedly overstepping executive authority.
While federal forces have already been deployed to Los Angeles, similar operations planned for Portland and Chicago are currently on hold due to temporary injunctions issued by federal courts.
