Jan. 26 The administration said arrests could pick up quickly: The Washington Post reports ICE officials have been told to aim for 1,200 to 1,500 daily arrests, including at least 75 arrests by each of the agency’s roughly two dozen field offices.

During the White House press briefing, NBC News’ Peter Alexander asked if President Trump’s deportation priority has changed from what he said on the campaign trail, that violent criminals would be the focus.

Trump's remarks come amid a crackdown on illegal immigration and executive orders that have paved the way for mass deportations.

The president pitched the idea as a cost-saving measure, arguing that sending U.S. criminals overseas for a “small fee” would cost less than domestic imprisonment.