Trump to begin mass deportations in Chicago next week

The incoming Trump administration is poised to launch sweeping deportation operations next week, with Chicago set as the first city in its crosshairs. President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on Monday, has vowed to prioritize the removal of illegal immigrants immediately upon assuming office.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expected to send 100-200 officers to Chicago to conduct what the outlet described as a large-scale “immigration raid.” The operation aims to target the city due to its significant population of illegal immigrants and its history of non-cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has openly opposed Trump’s immigration policies, which has intensified tensions between local and federal officials.

“We’re going to start right here in Chicago, Illinois,” said Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, during a visit to the city last month. “And if the Chicago mayor doesn’t want to help, he can step aside. But if he impedes us, if he knowingly harbors or conceals an illegal alien, I will prosecute him.”

Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, in response to Homan’s comments, said, “I’m going to make sure to follow the law. I’m concerned that the Trump administration and his lackeys aren’t going to follow the law.”

The Chicago Police Department also issued a statement in which it confirmed that it does not document the immigration status of those in the city.

"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,” the statement said.

In addition to Chicago, cities like New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami are expected to be targeted due to their high populations of illegal immigrants. Trump’s team is reportedly considering measures to bolster deportation efforts, including providing incentives for jurisdictions that cooperate with federal authorities and imposing financial penalties on those that refuse.

Law enforcement agencies in some liberal-leaning cities have routinely expressed unwillingness to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement that officials in 2020 banned law enforcement in the city from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

“We are here to protect the communities we serve, not to enforce immigration laws,” the department said. Trump’s team has threatened to withhold federal grants from sanctuary cities that resist cooperation, which could result in billions of dollars in losses for those jurisdictions.