Who will give Donald Trump the desperately needed victory?

Donald Trump has fulfilled his promise of ramping up deportations during his presidency. During the 2024 election, he pledged to carry out the largest deportation campaign in American history, a promise he appears to be keeping. Over 18 months into his term, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that nearly 1 million people have been deported under his administration.

While the actual number may be lower, as the administration no longer publishes official statistics, this still marks a significant increase from previous administrations.

The administration's crackdown on deportations contrasts sharply with its initial approach after federal agents killed two American citizens during immigration raids in Minneapolis. Protests erupted nationwide, leading to the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and a 76-day shutdown of the agency. However, the agency has since resumed its deportation efforts, with Border Patrol agents no longer using confrontational tactics such as rappelling from helicopters or tear-gassing protesters.

Instead, ICE arrests have surged to record levels, with nearly 50,000 arrests in July alone. Immigration judges are issuing removal orders at an unprecedented rate, with over 1.6 million migrants now awaiting deportation. While these deportations are not as confrontational as those during the Obama administration, they remain more aggressive due to the targets – mostly migrants who have been in the country for years and have family ties.

This approach has sparked controversy and criticism, with critics arguing that many migrants are being held in inhumane conditions.

Despite the backlash against Trump's policies, more than a fifth of his 2024 voters now support abolishing ICE. This shift in public opinion could have implications for the midterm elections and future immigration reform efforts. However, for now, deportations continue under the new leadership of DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who appears to be more focused on enforcement than showy raids.