Trump Delays Raids on Migrants, Cites Democrats' Requests

() -- President Donald Trump put off for two weeks the start of a planned nationwide roundup of undocumented immigrants, tempering a vow made earlier Saturday to have them “removed from the country” starting next week.

Trump said he was acting “at the request of Democrats,” although immigration officials suggested that reports on the timing of the actions played a role.

The delay will give time “to see if the Democrats and Republicans can get together and work out a solution to the Asylum and Loophole problems at the Southern Border,” Trump tweeted on Saturday. “If not, Deportations start!”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke by telephone with Trump Friday night, asking him to call off the raids, according to a person familiar with the discussion. An hour after Trump disclosed his decision, she tweeted her response.

“Mr. President, delay is welcome,” Pelosi said. “Time is needed for comprehensive immigration reform. Families belong together.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had been poised to start attempting to round up about 2,000 people in 10 cities, including Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago and Baltimore, according to media reports. Trump said the raids were to start in the coming week.

The Washington Post first reported on the timing of the potential raids on Friday. “Any leak telegraphing sensitive law enforcement operations is egregious and puts our officers’ safety in danger,” ICE spokeswoman Carol Danko said in an emailed statement on Saturday.

As he left the White House early Saturday for meetings at Camp David, Trump said the people to be apprehended had defied orders to return to their home nations after breaking the law to enter the U.S.

“They have to be removed from the country. They will be removed from...