President Donald Trump directed federal officials to expand efforts to deport migrants in the largest US cities in the face of protests and court challenges, even as his administration is looking to ease the impact of the crackdown on key sectors of the American workforce.

President Donald Trump issued a new social media proclamation Sunday night directing federal officials to prioritize deportations from New York and other Democrat-run cities, a move that comes after large protests erupted across the country in response to his administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

Even as he eases deportations in Trump-friendly industries and places, the president is using ICE as an instrument of partisan warfare.