On the 28th (local time), mugshots of immigrants facing serious crime allegations were displayed on the White House lawn. They were positioned to be naturally exposed in media reports and TV broadcasts. Above their faces, which were set against a black background, the word "Arrested" was written, and below, their respective charges were noted on a red background.
Standing against the mugshots, Tom Homan, the White House border advisor, told reporters, "The Trump administration has achieved unprecedented results in border enforcement," adding, "We will continue to push forward at full speed."
According to the Associated Press, President Donald Trump is focusing on border enforcement achievements as he marks his 100th day of his second term. This is interpreted as an effort to offset deteriorating public opinion by foregrounding immigration policies, which are seen as a relative strength for Trump.
Reports indicate that the White House is highlighting the significant decrease in illegal immigration crossing the border as an early achievement. On this day, President Trump is expected to sign two additional executive orders related to immigration, including a directive for state and federal agencies to disclose their lists of "sanctuary cities."
The immigration issue has emerged as the most favorable area for President Trump in opinion polls. White House Spokesperson Caroline Levitt stated during a morning briefing, "We are at an early stage of launching the largest deportation operation in U.S. history." According to the White House, approximately 139,000 individuals have been deported since the Trump administration began. Compared to the Biden administration, deportations have actually decreased during certain periods, but the Trump administration claims, "It's meaningless to compare simply because the number of people crossing the border has decreased."
President Trump plans to hold a large-scale rally in Macomb County, Michigan, on the 30th to mark his 100th day. Macomb County is one of the key areas of the American auto industry located north of Detroit. On the 2nd of next month, President Trump is scheduled to give a speech at the University of Alabama graduation ceremony, and several major media interviews are lined up. On that day, President Trump conducted interviews with ABC News and the White House Office, and also held discussions with journalists from The Atlantic, who have shown a critical tone.
U.S. presidents have been evaluating their first 100 days since Franklin Roosevelt. President Trump was skeptical of the 100-day evaluation during his first term, but this time he is emphasizing early achievements to turn the tide.
However, public opinion toward President Trump is deteriorating. A recent AP-NORC poll indicates that Americans are nearly twice as likely to think Trump is "focusing on the wrong direction" rather than having "the right policy priorities."
Among Republican supporters, only half believe he is "generally focused on the right things," while one-fourth responded that "it's a mix of right and wrong." Ten percent of respondents rated that he has "the wrong priorities." Support for President Trump among Republicans has decreased by about 10 percentage points compared to January.
The Trump administration has faced criticism for overstepping executive authority, especially in the process of strengthening immigration policy. He sent hundreds of Venezuelan gang members to prisons in El Salvador despite a court order to "turn back the deportation planes," and there has been conflict over compliance with Supreme Court orders for the return of individuals who were mistakenly deported.
Although large-scale forced deportation operations have yet to be fully realized, the White House is reportedly pushing various incentives to encourage "voluntary departure" of illegal immigrants, including increased fines, providing airfare, and return support.