President Trump is delaying plans for federal officials to conduct mass raids to arrest illegal immigrants who violated deportation orders beginning this weekend.
In a tweet Saturday the president announced that, at the behest of Democrats, he would put off deporting “millions of illegal aliens” two weeks in order to allow time for lawmakers to come up with an agreement for immigration policy.
“If not, Deportations start!” Trump said.
At the request of Democrats, I have delayed the Illegal Immigration Removal Process (Deportation) for two weeks to see if the Democrats and Republicans can get together and work out a solution to the Asylum and Loophole problems at the Southern Border. If not, Deportations start!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2019
Trump had announced on Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers would engage in raids in 10 major cities across the U.S. on Sunday to enforce federal immigration law.
Democrats and immigration activists criticized the plan.
“The president’s new threat of a mass deportation dragnet is an act of utter malice and bigotry, designed solely to inject fear in our communities,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said last week. “The president must walk away from these cruel, ineffective and discriminatory policies, and work with Democrats to support smart, effective immigration reform that honors our values and keeps families together and safe.”
Pelosi, who issued another statement earlier in the day calling on religious leaders to push back against Trump on the ICE raids, welcomed news of the delay.
Mr. President, delay is welcome. Time is needed for comprehensive immigration reform. Families belong together. https://t.co/R9PDrfaKWj
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) June 22, 2019
