Garčević Weighs in on Trump’s Immigration Policy and Ensuing Protests in TV Interview
Professor Vesko Garčević appeared on “Context,” an Al Jazeera Balkans show to discuss Trump’s controversial immigration policy and the widespread backlash against it. Joined by Professor Dejan Jović from the University of Zagreb and Mijat Kostić, a researcher at the think tank New Third Way, Garčević spoke in detail about the protests that unfolded condemning the wayward ICE arrests.
Garčević said that more than five million people marched in No Kings demonstrations across the United States, emphasizing the scale of dissent. From small towns to big cities, the professor remarked that people from all backgrounds expressed their disapproval against Trump’s pro-authoritarian approach, especially his harsh deportation policies.
Additionally, the professor stated that the military parade commemorating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary was deliberately held on June 14 to coincide with Trump’s birthday. This act resembles king’s parades or similar spectacles which are often organized to honor authoritarian leaders.
With regards to the protests in Los Angeles, Garčević highlighted the political agenda influencing the decision to deploy the National Guard. He reminded the audience of Trump’s list containing three dozen cities and areas in the U.S. that embrace sanctuary jurisdiction and his intention to crack down on sanctuary policies, often described as “leftist.” According to the professor, the current administration has politicized and securitized the immigration issue, equating law-abiding immigrants with dangerous criminal aliens.
Watch Professor Garčević’s complete remarks here.
Vesko Garčević is a professor of the practice of international studies at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and the director of the Center for the Study of Europe. He served as an Ambassador of Montenegro to Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. An expert on multilateral issues, he is the co-author of Montenegro and Serbia: A Velvet Divorce? (Bloomsbury Academic, 2025) which explores the divergent past between Serbia and Montenegro between 1988 and 2023. To read more about his work and accomplishments, visit his faculty profile.