Trump Defends ICE Raids, Threatens Military

In a 60 Minutes interview aired Nov. 2, President Trump defended this year's aggressive ICE raids, saying they "haven't gone far enough" and blaming "liberal judges" for restraining enforcement. He defended tactics shown in footage from cities like Chicago — including agents using tear gas, tackling a mother and smashing car windows — saying he was "okay" with them because "you have to get the people out," and he repeated that many detainees are murderers or dangerous criminals while critics say many arrestees are nonviolent workers and family members. Trump reiterated his campaign promise of mass deportations and warned he could invoke the Insurrection Act and use the military if he chose to bolster enforcement. His administration has expanded programs deputizing local police to assist ICE, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly backed the operations and signaled further steps including acquiring facilities in Chicago. The raids, which have targeted sanctuary cities such as Chicago and New York, have prompted protests, legal challenges and resistance from local Democratic officials and civil-rights advocates. The interview was his first 60 Minutes sitdown since he sued CBS/Paramount over a 2024 Harris interview, a suit that was later settled.