MAGA allies say Trump is going soft on deportations, demand "Phase 2"

A coalition of conservatives, including the Mass Deportation Coalition led by The Oversight Project's Mike Howell, is pressuring President Trump to increase deportations, claiming he is softening on a key campaign promise. This group, which includes GOP think tanks and advocacy groups, is pushing for "Phase 2," aiming for at least one million deportations per year. They argue that the first year of Trump's second term saw a "deviation from the central campaign promise of mass deportations," with ICE removals at about 350,000 in fiscal year 2025. The Coalition believes White House staffers are divided on the issue, though Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is seen as a natural ally. They have released a policy playbook for the executive branch with over a dozen ideas to ramp up enforcement and are making their case across Capitol Hill.