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The sun rose Monday on President Trump’s 99th day in office to reveal an unusual and provocative display on the White House North Lawn: rows of booking photos showing immigrants accused or convicted of serious crimes, including murder, kidnapping, child sexual assault, and rape.
Although the photos at the White House lacked names, a White House X (formerly Twitter) post included images paired with names. The striking visual was part of the Trump administration’s effort to underscore its aggressive immigration enforcement policies as the president approaches his 100th day in office on Tuesday.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that President Trump would sign two executive orders Monday to bolster law enforcement efforts. One executive order will empower officers to pursue individuals suspected of violent crimes, while another will create a public list of U.S. jurisdictions that “obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
“If you’re an illegal alien in the United States, this message is for you: You cannot hide from ICE. We are actively looking for you,” declared Tom Homan, the White House’s border security czar.
The photos, intended to appear prominently during televised press briefings and interviews from the North Lawn, were described by the White House as depicting undocumented immigrants. CBS News, however, noted it has not independently verified the claims about the individuals shown.
In a sharp message posted on the White House X account alongside an image of the photo-lined lawn, the administration warned: “We will hunt you down. You will face justice. You will be deported — and you will never set foot on American soil again.”
Homan defended the administration’s border policies during an appearance Sunday on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, stating, “We’ve got the most secure border in the history of this nation, and President Trump was able to accomplish that in seven weeks.”
Nevertheless, the Trump administration has faced criticism for its aggressive tactics. Advocates have raised concerns about the use of wartime authorities to deport immigrants suspected of gang affiliations without full due process, as well as the deportation of young U.S. citizen children along with their undocumented mothers. Homan asserted that due process is provided and that parents are given the option to bring their children with them when deported.
Public opinion appears divided. A CBS News poll found that 56% of Americans support the deportation of undocumented immigrants, but a majority oppose mistakenly detaining or deporting legal residents. Overall, the poll showed that 49% approve of Trump’s handling of immigration issues, while 51% disapprove.
As President Trump reaches the 100-day mark, immigration remains a cornerstone — and a flashpoint — of his administration’s agenda.
