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Tom Llamas framed the issue directly, asking whether Americans should expect a fundamental shift in immigration enforcement after Minneapolis.
“I want to be clear, because it sounds like there is a shift in immigration enforcement here—that there’s going to be a shift after Minneapolis. What should Americans expect going forward?” Llamas asked.
President Trump did not shy away from the question.
“Well, one thing I say to my people: we do a good job, and we don’t get credit for it. I say they have to ask, and they have to say ‘please.’ When a city is going to ask the mayor or the governor, I don’t want to go and force ourselves into a city, even if their numbers are terrible.”
Trump went on to contrast uncooperative sanctuary cities with states that have actively requested federal assistance. He cited a call from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a prime example of how cooperation leads to results.
“Like, for instance, I got a call from Jeff Landry, governor of Louisiana. He said, ‘We have a big problem. Could you go in and help us with—well, let’s see—certain sections.’ I mean, to be honest with you, certain sections of the state beyond their famous, beautiful city—certain sections of the state.”
The President emphasized that federal enforcement in Louisiana was both requested and effective.
“We have done not only New Orleans, we’ve done a really great job in Louisiana. But I was called. I want to be called. Chicago—we could solve the Chicago crime.”
Llamas pressed further, asking which cities may be next.
“We have five cities that we’re looking at very strongly, but we want to be invited. We will sometimes call the governors and say, ‘Are you going to invite us?’” Trump said.
When Llamas suggested cities like Chicago or Philadelphia, Trump did not hesitate.
“We could straighten out the crime in Chicago. We’ve already brought it down 25% just by being there. We could have Chicago be a safe city, just like D.C. is a safe city—just like all of these places that we’ve gone to.”
Trump framed his actions as a natural extension of his law-and-order platform.
“I look forward to it. I didn’t campaign on that. I campaigned on law and order, but I didn’t think I’d be going into individual cities and making them safe.”
When asked for more details about the five cities under consideration, Trump hinted at political pressure coming even from deep-blue areas like San Francisco.
“We’ll be announcing them very quickly, but we could do something. As an example, I was called by people in San Francisco. They said, ‘Please, we have a Democrat mayor. He’s trying very hard. You have friends of mine that live there. It’s got crime problems. Would you let him do the job and not come in? Let’s see how it works.’”
Trump made it clear he believes federal intervention works faster and more effectively.
“I said, ‘Look, I can do it much quicker—much faster.’ Don’t forget, we remove criminals. We took over 2,000 hardcore criminals out of Washington, D.C. If we didn’t do that—2% of the people create 90% of the crime. Think of that: 2%.”
“So you have criminals—it’s over and over again. Two percent create 90% of the crime. We took out 2,000 people—more than 2,000 people—out of Washington, D.C., and we now have a safe city.”
WATCH:
Operation Metro Surge previously deployed nearly 3,000 federal immigration officers into Minnesota, a move that ignited fierce resistance from progressive activists and local officials. Following the backlash, Border Czar Tom Homan confirmed that approximately 700 officers would be pulled back from Minneapolis. The White House framed the change as a step toward improved coordination with local leaders.
But the policy shift carries deeper political consequences. By conditioning federal help on formal invitations, President Trump is effectively forcing sanctuary city mayors to put their rhetoric to the test.
For years, Democrats have insisted that ICE and federal law enforcement make their cities less safe. Now, Trump is giving them exactly what they claim to want—less federal involvement. When crime spirals and migrant-related offenses continue draining city resources, responsibility will rest squarely on local leadership.
If Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey or Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson choose to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over law-abiding residents, President Trump appears ready to let them face the consequences. And when the situation becomes unmanageable—as many already have—the White House will be waiting for the same mayors who once grandstanded against federal enforcement to quietly ask for help they once rejected.
