President-elect Donald Trump‘s plans to launch a major immigration raid in Chicago next week are under review after details of the operation were leaked to the press, incoming border czar Tom Homan has said.
Newsweek has contacted the Trump transition team and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Reports of a major immigration raid in Chicago suggest Trump’s key 2024 campaign pledge to launch the largest mass deportation of undocumented immigrants could begin immediately after he returns to office.
John Moore/Getty Images
What To Know
Federal immigration officers were reportedly planning a large-scale raid targeting approximately 300 people in Chicago, The Associated Press reported on Saturday, citing unnamed sources.
The New York Times reported the raids were planned to begin Tuesday, one day after Trump’s inauguration, and continue until the following Monday. According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. ICE planned to deploy between 100 and 200 officers to carry out the operation.
The focus was on undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds. Some of those reportedly targeted have minor offenses, such as driving violations, which the outgoing Biden administration did not pursue.
Homan, the former acting director for U.S. ICE, told ABC News that the incoming administration is now “reviewing” whether to proceed with the Chicago operation following the leak.
A spokesperson for U.S. ICE told Newsweek that any information “concerning activities which may take place after the inauguration” must be referred to the incoming administration.
Trump hinted at the plans in an earlier interview with ABC News, describing the raids as a “priority” for his new administration.
Chicago is one of several so-called sanctuary cities in the U.S. that limit or deny cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Government officials in these cities, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, have vowed to defy Trump’s mass deportation plans.
What People Are Saying
Tom Homan, incoming border czar, said to ABC News on Saturday: “We’re reviewing any plans in Chicago because of the leak. When the president gets sworn in, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are going to have a new priority of seeking out those who are considered a public safety threat and a national security threat.”
President-elect Donald Trump said to ABC News: “It’s a priority that we get the criminals out of our country. And it is for everybody else—it’s one of the reasons I won the election by such a big margin. And it is a priority.”
Brandon Lee, spokesperson for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said to The AP: “The reality is that, I think there has been a level of fear since Election Day. We were always operating as if Trump was going to target Chicago and Illinois early in his administration.”
Chicago Police Department said in a statement to ABC 7: “The Chicago Police Department enforces the City of Chicago’s Municipal Code, which includes the Welcoming City Ordinance. CPD does not document immigration status, and in accordance with the ordinance, does not share information with federal immigration authorities. We will not intervene or interfere with any other government agencies performing their duties.”
What Happens Next
Trump will be sworn in as president on Monday, January 20. It remains unclear whether the mass immigration raids will proceed in Chicago or any other U.S. city early next week.
In a shocking turn of events, the Chicago mass deportation plan has been thrown into doubt after a leak revealed details of the controversial operation. The plan, which aimed to deport thousands of undocumented immigrants from the city, has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation.
The leaked documents reveal that the operation was set to target individuals with minor offenses or no criminal record at all. This has raised concerns about the indiscriminate nature of the deportations and the impact it would have on families and communities.
Critics of the plan have called for its immediate suspension, citing violations of human rights and due process. They argue that the mass deportation of immigrants only serves to further divide communities and create fear and instability.
The leak has also raised questions about the transparency and accountability of the government’s immigration policies. Many are calling for a more humane and compassionate approach to dealing with the issue of undocumented immigrants, rather than resorting to mass deportations.
As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the Chicago mass deportation plan. Will it be implemented as planned, or will the leak cause a reevaluation of the government’s approach to immigration enforcement? Only time will tell.
Tags:
Chicago Mass Deportation, Deportation Plan, Chicago Immigration, Chicago News, Immigration Policy, Leak, Chicago Politics, Immigration Reform, Chicago Government, Chicago Mayor
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