The Trump administration has altered the approach to its mass deportation campaign following a backlash over the killing of two US citizens by immigration officers and growing public discontent. The shift in tone comes after hardline figures such as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border patrol commander Gregory Bovino were removed from their posts.
In January, immigration officers killed Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, sparking widespread condemnation. Democratic lawmakers blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security for over a month, and even President Trump acknowledged the need for 'a softer touch'.
Noem has been replaced by Markwayne Mullin as DHS secretary, while Bovino has been demoted and is retiring. Border czar Tom Homan has taken a more conciliatory approach, meeting with Minneapolis officials and backing away from the strategy of swarming blue cities with ICE agents.
Mullin told senators he would require judicial warrants to enter homes and expressed willingness to work with sanctuary cities. ICE has largely abandoned the confrontational surges that characterised the earlier phase.
Average daily immigration arrests fell 11% in February to 1,115, down from a peak of 1,300, according to internal data. However, this rate remains four times higher than under Joe Biden, and the administration is on track for the largest crackdown since 2003.
Analysts say the enforcement goals are unchanged but are now carried out less overtly. The earlier raids created legal challenges and political backlash but served to instil fear and encourage 'self-deportation'.
