White House Press Secretary Blames Funding and Judicial Obstacles for Deportation Shortfalls
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt laid the blame for the Trump Administration’s sluggish deportation efforts at the feet of Congressional funding issues and what she termed “rogue district court judges.” This statement comes amid stark realities surrounding immigration enforcement as of April 1, 2025, when over 100,000 individuals had been deported since January 20, 2025—a pace that, while notable, falls woefully short of the astronomical numbers needed to address an estimated 20 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S.
To achieve the ambitious goal of deporting these individuals, the Trump Administration would need to ramp up operations to an extraordinary rate of over ten thousand deportations per day. As reality often dictates, numbers tell a story of their own.
When pressed about the current state of illegal immigration and the administration’s deportation estimates, Leavitt suggested the situation is dire. “We suspect it’s definitely in the millions and perhaps upwards of 20 million people that were allowed into the country illegally by the previous administration,” she stated, reflecting a sentiment that echoes across many political discussions.
She continued, emphasizing the need for more financial backing from Congress: “The president’s team has made it clear that we need more funding from Congress to do more, we need more ICE agents out on the ground doing this very important work.” In a world where funding is the lifeblood of any initiative, her plea resonates deeply.
Leavitt did not shy away from criticizing district court judges who have intervened in deportation processes, calling them “judicial activists” impeding the administration’s efforts to remove “illegal criminals from our nation’s interior.” This conflict between the executive branch and the judiciary is reminiscent of a game of chess, where every move is scrutinized and every piece counts.
As reported by , a recent ruling from a Biden-appointed judge in Denver has added another layer of complexity. Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a temporary restraining order preventing the deportation of certain aliens, asserting that those facing removal under the Alien Enemies Act must receive 21 days’ notice prior to their deportation. This decision underscores the challenges the Trump Administration faces as it endeavors to navigate the legal labyrinth surrounding immigration enforcement.
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Addressing National Security Concerns with Foreign Nationals
In addition to immigration enforcement, Leavitt touched upon potential national security concerns regarding the large number of Chinese nationals currently in the U.S. on student visas. She highlighted that the Secretary of State retains the authority to revoke visas for individuals deemed to be acting against U.S. foreign policy interests. “If they are acting, again, adversarial to our foreign policy interests, their visa can be revoked, and they should be aware of that,” she warned—a reminder that the stakes in immigration policy extend far beyond mere numbers.
Reporter: Roughly how many illegal immigrants and aliens do we have in our country, and how many does the administration plan on deporting?
Leavitt: You’d have to ask the Department of Homeland Security for a specific number, but we suspect it’s definitely in the millions and perhaps upwards of 20 million people that were allowed into the country illegally by the previous administration. And the President and his team are focused on deporting as many as we possibly can, and they are moving as quickly as possible. The president’s team has made it clear that we need more funding from Congress to do more, we need more ICE agents out on the ground doing this very important work, and we also need rogue district court judges to stop acting as judicial activists, trying to block the administration from deporting illegal criminals from our nation’s interior. The American public elected the President to do this, and he’s following through with that promise.
Reporter: We have over a quarter million Chinese nationals in our country right now on student visas. Does the Administration believe there is any national security concern when it comes to those over a quarter million Chinese nationals in our country?
Leavitt: Well, as you know, when it comes to foreign visas, the Secretary of State has the right to revoke visas for those who we feel are acting in an adversarial way to our foreign policy interests here in the United States. He has that authority according to the Immigration and Nationality Act. So, I would defer you to the State Department for any individual case, but they are looking at individuals who are given the privilege of being on a visa in our country, and if they are acting, again, adversarial to our foreign policy interests, their visa can be revoked, and they should be aware of that.
