On Monday, June 16, 2025, the White House issued a sharp response to former President Barack Obama’s criticism of President Donald Trump’s immigration approach, insisting that the public is uninterested in Obama’s opinions on the matter.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told the Daily Beast that if voters wanted Obama’s views, they would have elected “open-borders radical, Kamala Harris,” adding, “But it’s President Trump who’s in the White House, and he’s keeping his promise—protecting our borders and deporting illegal immigrants.”
This exchange began after Obama took to X on Sunday, June 15, using the platform to warn against demonizing immigrants. He pointed to his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, introduced 13 years earlier, as evidence that the country can value both its heritage as a nation of immigrants and its respect for the law.
Obama wrote, “Thirteen years ago, my administration took action to safeguard young people who were American in every way except on paper.” He emphasized that today’s immigrants “simply want to live, work, and contribute to their communities” and called for everyone to be treated “with dignity and respect.”
In response to Obama’s comments, President Trump posted on Truth Social, urging ICE to begin “the largest Mass Deportation Program in History,” targeting “Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens,” specifically in Democratic-led cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City. Trump argued that immigrants in these areas sway elections and strain welfare programs, although he did not provide supporting evidence.
Trump said he had directed his administration to dedicate every possible resource to this effort, aiming to halt what he described as a harmful influx of migration that he claims has led once peaceful towns to deteriorate into “third-world conditions.”
A Vox report points out that Trump’s deportation totals continue to lag behind Obama’s 2013 high of approximately 438,000 removals. Despite talk of massive enforcement and a proposed $155 billion plan, Trump has not yet matched Obama’s numbers. According to Vox, this is in part due to fewer border crossings and increased opposition from states and local jurisdictions.
These political tensions arise as ICE ramps up operations, notably more workplace raids in Los Angeles, triggering protests across the country.
CNN noted that the Department of Homeland Security recently reversed policies that had limited immigration enforcement at farms, hotels, and restaurants—a move attributed to direct pressure from the White House to hit immigration goals.
Furthermore, during a morning call on June 16, ICE leaders nationwide were told they must restart workplace raids, reversing earlier instructions that followed lobbying from industries that depend on immigrant workers.
In reaction, states such as California pushed legislation intended to shield immigrants from federal authorities, restricting ICE’s access to hospitals, schools, and public spaces unless they have warrants. State lawmakers want to reduce ICE’s reach, and according to Politico, Democrats are organizing against what they refer to as “military-style operations.”
Americans remain split on these issues. A Pew Research Center poll from June 2025 found that about 60 percent of US adults disapprove of policies from Trump’s time in office, including tighter asylum rules and increased raids, though these actions maintain strong Republican backing. Around half the respondents said removals have been handled “too carelessly,” and most support some type of legal pathway for undocumented immigrants.
Under Obama, deportation priorities shifted toward undocumented people with serious criminal convictions, resulting in lower overall numbers but a focus on public safety. Trump’s current strategy emphasizes broader enforcement in workplaces and communities, but so far, claims of mass deportation haven’t materialized.
Although Trump continues to express strong support for ICE, statistics reveal that deportation rates are still below Obama’s 2013 peak. Still, the Trump administration is increasing resources for additional raids, particularly in cities led by Democrats.
This high-profile dispute brings to light the deep and persistent divide over how America approaches immigration enforcement, questions of national identity, and the role deportation should play. Obama’s perspective highlights compassion and legal reform, while Trump’s approach is geared toward strict enforcement and safeguarding the nation.