WASHINGTON, D.C. Nov 2, 2025 –
President Donald Trump, in a pointed exchange during a CBS “60 Minutes” interview aired late last week, pushed back against criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, insisting the agency hasn’t been aggressive enough in deporting undocumented immigrants—many of whom he described as “murderers” and criminals expelled from their home countries.
The remarks, captured in a 34-second clip shared widely on social media by the Elon Musk-founded America PAC, highlight Trump’s unyielding stance on border security as his administration ramps up enforcement amid ongoing debates over immigration policy. The post, which garnered over 20,000 views within hours, quotes Trump directly: “I think they haven’t gone far enough because we’ve been held back by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama… You have to get the people out… Many of them are murderers.”
In the interview with veteran correspondent Scott Pelley, Trump addressed viral videos circulating online showing ICE agents tackling a young mother during a raid, deploying tear gas in a Chicago residential neighborhood, and smashing car windows to apprehend suspects. Pelley pressed: “Have some raids gone too far?”
Trump’s response was unequivocal: “No, I think they haven’t gone far enough… We’ve been held back by liberal judges that were put in by Biden or Obama.” When Pelley followed up on the tactics themselves—”You’re okay with those tactics?”—the president replied, “Yeah, you need to look at people. Many are murderers. Many of them are people that were thrown out of their countries because, you know, criminals.”
The exchange underscores a core tension in Trump’s second-term agenda: accelerating mass deportations while navigating judicial hurdles from federal courts, where appointees from prior Democratic administrations have issued injunctions against certain ICE actions. Supporters, including the America PAC, frame these rulings as “ideological sabotage,” citing data showing a 72% drop in border apprehensions since 2021 under Trump’s policies.
The clip’s release comes at a pivotal moment, with ICE reporting over 500,000 deportations in fiscal year 2025—surpassing previous records but falling short of Trump’s campaign promise of millions. Advocacy groups like the ACLU have decried the operations as “inhumane,” pointing to incidents like the Chicago raid, where non-violent families were caught in the crossfire.
Online reactions to the America PAC’s post were polarized but leaned heavily supportive. Users praised Trump’s resolve, with one writing, “He’s right. Every one of them need to be out,” and another calling for removing “liberal judges” to “bump these numbers up.” A self-described legal immigrant echoed the sentiment: “It’s a slap in the face to think you can just walk in here and take without contributing or worse by committing crimes… Thank you Trump for putting our country first!”
Critics, however, were swift. One reply accused Trump of hypocrisy: “He accuses people of murder while supporting the world’s biggest killing machine! Israel killed 15,000 children and Gaza became a mass grave funded by our taxes.” Others questioned the focus, with a user asking for tips on reporting suspected undocumented neighbors to ICE.
The full “60 Minutes” segment, which aired on October 27, delves deeper into Trump’s foreign policy and domestic priorities but has drawn scrutiny for its access to the Oval Office. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, in a briefing today, defended the interview as “transparent leadership,” while declining to comment on specific ICE tactics.
As midterm elections loom, Trump’s comments are likely to galvanize his base while fueling Democratic attacks on what they call a “deportation machine” prioritizing spectacle over due process. With border security polls showing 62% public approval for stricter enforcement, the debate shows no signs of cooling.
