White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s immigration enforcement strategy during a briefing in which two reporters pressed her on worksite raids and federal operations in cities where local officials oppose cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

One reporter asked whether the administration would continue large-scale raids and deportation operations in jurisdictions that have publicly resisted ICE involvement.

“Is the administration going to continue to conduct large worksite raids as it seeks to target violent criminals? And can you clarify? Is the federal government going to continue doing these deportation operations in blue cities where authorities say they don't want them?” the reporter said.

Leavitt responded by referencing President Trump’s recent remarks on immigration enforcement and explained that cooperation from state and local governments is central to the administration’s approach.

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“Well, first again to the President's answer yesterday, the full context of his answer was that he'd like to see a softer touch, but we are always going to remain tough,” Leavitt said.

She explained that the “softer touch” referred to coordination between federal, state, and local authorities.

“That softer touch the President is referring to is that cooperation that is necessary between state and local authorities and federal government authorities to ensure that we can continue deporting illegal aliens from our communities without tons of agents having to go after one illegal alien,” Leavitt said.

She added that when local governments transfer custody of illegal aliens to ICE at jails, enforcement becomes more efficient and safer.

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“If the states in the local governments just turn over their illegal aliens to ICE at jails, as they should be doing, it requires one agent to deport that one illegal alien, who can then go on their way to their home country in a peaceful manner,” she said.

Leavitt pointed to recent unrest in Minnesota as an example of what happens when local officials refuse to cooperate.

“The escalation that we've seen take place in Minnesota is a direct result of the refusal of state and local officials to cooperate with the federal government and with ICE, which has led to these hostile and dangerous environments,” she said.

She stated that the administration does not want similar situations elsewhere and reiterated that the President is seeking direct cooperation.

On the question of future worksite raids, Leavitt declined to outline specific plans.

“I don't broadcast any future action that may or may not happen from the Department of Homeland Security,” she said, adding that enforcement priorities remain focused on criminal activity.

“Again, the President's focus and the administration's focus is on targeting illegal alien criminals, especially those who have committed heinous crimes in our country,” she said.

A second reporter asked whether ICE and Border Patrol would avoid operating in cities where local leaders say they do not want federal enforcement.

“Will ICE and Border Patrol avoid going to other blue cities where the local official are saying, We won't work with you. We don't want you here,” the reporter asked.

Leavitt sharply criticized that stance, questioning why any elected official would oppose cooperation.

“Well, first of all, those local officials should be wanting to work with ICE. Why would any official, whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, want murderers and predators in your city? It makes zero sense. It's an untenable position,” she said.

She argued that opposition from Democrats is driven by politics rather than public safety. “The only reason Democrats are taking that position now is because their entire party platform is just anti Trump,” she said.

Leavitt said local leaders should be working directly with the administration.

“They should be calling this White House. They should be calling Secretary Noem. They should be calling Tom Homan, and they should be saying, we want to work with you to remove the worst of the worst criminals from our city. Please come here,” she said.

She concluded by stating that ICE will continue operating nationwide regardless of local resistance, while emphasizing the benefits of cooperation.

“So yes, ICE is going to continue to do their job in cities and communities across the country, but it certainly makes it much easier when we have that level of cooperation and corroboration at the state and local level,” Leavitt said.

She cited Florida as an example of successful coordination, noting, “In places like Florida, where there has been the arrest of 1000s, 10s of 1000s, of illegal alien criminals, none of you talk about that, or none of you hear about that, because these operations are going seamlessly and peacefully. Why? Because there is an intimate cooperation between the state government and the federal government, and that's what the President wants to see in all 50 states.”

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