President Donald Trump said vehicle checks in immigration enforcement must continue, the Kyunghyang Shinmun reported — reaffirming a hard line even as deaths linked to the crackdowns mount.

Fatal incidents during stops and pursuits by immigration authorities have stirred controversy across the U.S., with rights groups charging that aggressive enforcement is producing tragedies.

The administration touts deportation numbers as a signature achievement and has widened checkpoints and raids. With enforcement reaching workplaces and school runs, daily life in immigrant neighborhoods is shrinking.

Immigrant communities, including Asian Americans, worry that even lawful residents are being swept into checks. Bar associations are stepping up guidance on carrying documents and knowing one's rights.

The tension between enforcement and loss of life is an old fault line in American immigration politics — one set to sharpen ahead of the midterms.