Donald Trump tells Democrat congresswomen to 'go back' to where they came from in 'racist' tweet

Donald Trump told a group of Democrat congresswomen to "go back" to the places they came from as his administration launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration.

The US president launched a Twitter tirade against the congresswomen, who have been highly critical of his immigration policies, telling them: "You can't leave fast enough."

Late on Saturday night, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement began the first of a series of raids, which will take place in at least 10 cites over several days.

They planned to arrest at least 2,100 illegal immigrants, including families, who are on so-called "rocket dockets," which means they have already been sent court orders telling them to leave the country.

An estimated 11 million illegal immigrants are currently in the United States, one million of whom have been sent final removal orders. The 2,000, mostly from Central America, are among those one million.

Democrats have argued the policy will lead to the separation of families, and undocumented immigrants who have jobs and US children being swept up.

On Twitter, Mr Trump addressed "'Progressive' Democrat Congresswomen," which appeared to be a reference to a group of outspoken, liberal, recently elected women, who have become known as "the squad."

They include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

Mr Trump said: "So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly. and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run.

"Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done."

All the congresswomen are US citizens and only Ms Omar was not born in the US. She was born in Somalia, and is the first black Muslim woman in Congress.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat House speaker, accused Mr Trump of "xenophobia" and wanting to "make America white again." Other senior Democrats called the comments "racist."

"Let's be clear about what this vile comment is: A racist and xenophobic attack on Democratic congresswomen," tweeted Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic presidential candidate.

Another 2020 contender, former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, tweeted at the president: "This is racist. These congresswomen are every bit as American as you - and represent our values better than you ever will."

Miss Ocasio-Cortez, who was born in New York and is of Puerto Rican descent, said on Twitter: "Mr. President, the country I “come from,” & the country we all swear to, is the United States."

Mr Trump appeared unbowed on Sunday night when he returned to Twitter to say it was "so sad" to see Democrats sticking up for the women.

"If the Democrat Party wants to continue to condone such disgraceful behavior," he tweeted, "then we look even more forward to seeing you at the ballot box in 2020!"

As the immigration raids continued Matthew Albence, ICE's acting director, said: "We are doing targeted enforcement actions against specific individuals who have had their day in immigration court."

He said some families may be separated during the process, for example if a father and child were in the country illegally, but a mother wasn't.

He added: "If the mother wants to return voluntarily on her own with the family, she'll have an opportunity to do so."

Illegal immigrant families arrested in the raids could be housed temporarily in hotels before deportation.

The Marriott hotel group said it would not allow ICE to use its hotels for holding illegal immigrants.

The US has been struggling for more than a year with a migration crisis on its southern border, as thousands of people stream in from Central American countries riven by violence and poverty.

More than 100,000 undocumented immigrants arrived last month, which was down 28 per cent from May, but still at a "critical" level, according to the Department of Homeland Security.