A coalition of President Donald Trump's allies has formed to pressure the administration into resuming mass deportations of all unauthorized immigrants, not just violent criminals. This push comes amid a reported shift in White House messaging following controversial ICE operations. Meanwhile, Democratic-led cities in Republican states debate how to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Top allies of President Donald Trump, including former officials and conservative groups, have launched the Mass Deportation Coalition to lobby the White House for deporting all eligible migrants. The group, which includes Mark Morgan, former acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, and Erik Prince, former Blackwater CEO, argues that focusing only on violent criminals echoes failed policies from previous administrations. "A deportation strategy that involves targeting only violent criminals, gang members or terrorists for deportation is a Clinton-Obama-Biden policy. And it’s historically been a disastrous failure," Morgan said.
The coalition commissioned a poll from McLaughlin & Associates, conducted February 27 to March 3 among 2,000 likely 2026 voters, showing 66 percent support deporting any migrants who enter illegally and 58 percent favor deporting all deportable individuals. Among Trump 2024 voters, 87 percent, including 79 percent of Hispanic Trump voters, want deportations to exceed the 1950s effort under Dwight D. Eisenhower. "Overwhelmingly, Trump voters expect this from the administration," said Chris Chmielenski, president of the Immigration Accountability Project.
This effort follows ICE operations in Minnesota that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens, prompting the administration to pivot toward emphasizing deportations of violent criminals. Leadership changes include Tom Homan replacing Greg Bovino as border czar in Minneapolis, and Trump ousting DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, nominating Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) as replacement. In his State of the Union address, Trump focused on border security and criminal deportations. White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair directed House Republicans to highlight removing "violent/criminal illegals."
The White House denies any policy shift, stating 70 percent of deportations involve criminals and approximately 3 million unauthorized immigrants have left through deportation or self-deportation, with no illegal crossings for nine months. However, an internal DHS document indicates less than 14 percent of those arrested in Trump's first year had violent records. Contrasting polls show mixed public support: a January POLITICO survey found nearly half of U.S. adults view the campaign as too aggressive, while a February NPR/PBS/Marist poll indicated 65 percent believe ICE has gone too far.
Hispanic GOP lawmakers have raised concerns about alienating voters, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) describing it as a "hiccup" and noting a "course-correction mode."
Meanwhile, in Republican-led states, Democratic cities like Austin, Texas, are debating resistance to ICE cooperation mandates. At a recent Austin forum, Mayor Pro Tem Chito Vela reaffirmed commitment to immigrant safety, but Police Chief Lisa Davis explained state laws require compliance, including mandatory county partnerships by year's end. A new policy allows higher-ups to decide on holding individuals for ICE detainers, prioritizing not waiting for responses. Advocates, including Carmen Zubieta, argue it fails to build trust, citing cases like a mother deported after calling police. Similar debates occur in San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, and cities in Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, where more detentions happen quietly, according to Texas Immigration Law Council Director Kristin Etter.
