Trump Orders ICE to Expand Deportations in Sanctuary Cities — Denver Included
President Donald Trump has once again turned his attention to Denver and other Democratic-led cities, directing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to dramatically ramp up deportation efforts. In a social media post Sunday, Trump ordered federal agents to launch what he called the “single largest Mass Deportation Program in history,” targeting cities he claims are defying federal immigration law.
Among the cities named were Los Angeles, New York, Chicago — and Denver, which has long been identified by critics as a so-called “sanctuary city.” Trump accused Democratic leaders of using undocumented immigrants to “cheat in elections,” “grow the welfare state,” and “rob good-paying jobs from hardworking American citizens.”
“Radical Left Democrats are sick of mind,” Trump wrote in his post. “They hate our Country, and actually want to destroy our Inner Cities — and they are doing a good job of it!”
Denver in the Crosshairs
Denver’s inclusion in the president’s statement comes just weeks after Mayor Mike Johnston appeared before the U.S. House Oversight Committee to defend the city’s immigration policies. Johnston and other Colorado leaders have pushed back against claims that Denver is a sanctuary jurisdiction, a term that lacks a universal legal definition but generally refers to cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released — and later quietly removed — a list of sanctuary jurisdictions, which included several cities and counties in Colorado. Some of those named, such as Weld and El Paso counties, questioned the accuracy of their inclusion, noting that they have not formally adopted sanctuary policies.
Mass Enforcement vs. Industry Protections
Despite the hardline messaging, there appear to be carve-outs in Trump’s directive. ICE officers have reportedly been told to avoid arresting undocumented immigrants at farms, hotels, and restaurants — industries still grappling with labor shortages. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, said the decision came after Trump voiced concerns about hurting the economy with overly aggressive sweeps.
Still, enforcement is set to escalate. Stephen Miller, Trump’s top immigration advisor and deputy chief of staff, recently stated that ICE is now targeting 3,000 arrests per day — a major jump from the roughly 650 daily arrests during the earlier part of Trump’s second term.
Awaiting Local Response
As of Sunday evening, June 15, neither the Denver Mayor’s Office nor Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ office had released a statement in response to Trump’s directive. FOX31 has reached out to both for comment.
This latest move comes on the heels of large protests nationwide, including the “No Kings” demonstration in Denver earlier this month, which called for immigrant protections and limits on executive power.
Trump’s order signals a renewed focus on immigration enforcement as a key issue heading into the final year of his presidency, with sanctuary cities like Denver once again at the center of the debate.
