Starting Tuesday, President Donald Trump’s administration will begin a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Chicago, targeting illegal immigrants with deportation orders. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to send between 100 and 200 officers to the city to carry out the operation, which will continue throughout the week.
This move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to enforce immigration laws more aggressively, especially in sanctuary cities like Chicago and New York. These cities have policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, making them key targets in the administration’s push to crack down on illegal immigration.
According to sources familiar with the operation, ICE agents will focus on individuals who have been ordered to leave the country but have not complied. The operation is designed to remove people who pose a threat to public safety and those who have violated U.S. immigration laws.
Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming border security chief, made it clear that the administration is serious about enforcing the law. “We’re going to start right here in Chicago, Illinois,” Homan said. “If the Chicago mayor doesn’t want to help, he can step aside. But if he impedes us or knowingly harbors illegal immigrants, I will prosecute him.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has continued the city’s sanctuary policies, which prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. Critics argue that these policies make it harder for ICE to do its job and put public safety at risk. The Trump administration is now sending a clear message that it will not tolerate such resistance.
President Trump has long promised to strengthen border security and enforce immigration laws. In January, he stated, “Within moments of my inauguration, we will begin the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.” The upcoming raids in Chicago are one of the first major steps in delivering on that promise.
ICE operations are not limited to Chicago. Similar actions will take place in New York, Miami, and other sanctuary cities across the country. The goal is to ensure that immigration laws are enforced nationwide and that cities cannot shield illegal immigrants from deportation.
Local officials in Chicago are preparing for the operation. Alderman Michael Rodriguez of the 22nd Ward acknowledged that immigrant advocates have been informing communities about the upcoming raids. “It’s a fact that we have to be prepared,” Rodriguez said. However, city leaders have not indicated any plans to cooperate with federal authorities.
Federal law allows for prosecution of officials who obstruct immigration enforcement. Homan’s warning suggests that the Trump administration is willing to take legal action against city leaders who interfere with ICE operations. This could put Mayor Johnson and other officials in a difficult position if they choose to resist.
Supporters of the administration argue that these actions are necessary to protect public safety and uphold the rule of law. They point out that sanctuary policies have made it harder for ICE to remove dangerous individuals from the country, putting American citizens at risk.
Opponents of the raids have criticized the plan as too aggressive, but the Trump administration maintains that it is focused on enforcing existing laws. The operation will target people with final deportation orders, not families or individuals without legal issues.
The upcoming raids mark a shift in how immigration laws are enforced. Trump’s first administration saw increased border security, and now his second term is expected to intensify efforts to remove illegal immigrants from the country. By focusing on sanctuary cities like Chicago, the administration aims to send a strong message that federal law must be followed.
Chicago’s leadership now faces a choice: cooperate with federal law enforcement or risk legal consequences. The Trump administration has made its position clear—sanctuary policies will no longer be tolerated.
As ICE officers prepare to begin operations Tuesday morning, Chicagoans are watching closely to see how the city will respond. The Trump administration is determined to carry out its mission, and this week’s raids are only the beginning of a larger national effort to enforce immigration laws.
