news i.c.e. will target immigrants flagged for deportation in ten midajor citi. it s an operation the president has been promising since the eve of his campaign launch in june and has been talking about he ever since. take a listen. i don t call them raids. i say they came in illegally and we are bringing them out legally. these are people we have gone through the court system. they will be starting fairly soon. i don t call them raids. thousands and thousands of people will be legally removed from the country and that process has started. we have actually been doing that for a long time. the big question today, is the president s executive order less about the census and more about rallying his base? joining me now to discuss this nbc news white house correspondent kelly o donnell, phillip rucker, and attorney and professor at loyola law school jessica levenson. thank you for being here. kelly, i have to start with you