The incoming Trump administration intends to conduct a “post-inauguration” immigration raid in Chicago next week, according to two people familiar with the planning and documents reviewed by The New York Times, the first step in President-elect Donald J. Trump's goal to oversee the largest deportation operation in American history.
This program, called “Operation Safeguard” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will begin on Tuesday, the day after the inauguration of Mr. Trump, continued until next Monday, according to people familiar with the matter and the publication. Dates are still being finalized, however, and are subject to change.
The extent of the planned work was unclear. ICE routinely conducts deportations in cities across the United States. But the organization has been taking more steps to strengthen the work law and bind it to the appointment of Mr. Trump in a message sent to employees throughout the organization.
Hundreds of agents have been asked to volunteer and participate in “post-opening” operations targeting illegal immigrants in the United States. ICE plans to send up to 150 agents to Chicago for the raid.
To Mr. Trump, the sight of immigration agents sporting sports gear and arresting immigrants with uncertain or contested status in the Democratic-led city is not enough. Immigration officials are eager to find ways to send a message that they are cracking down on undocumented immigrants and punishing so-called sanctuary cities — communities like Chicago that refuse to hand over immigrants arrested by police to federal immigration authorities.
Don Terry, a Chicago police spokesman, said the department would not “interfere with or interfere with any other government agency doing its job,” but said it “does not document immigration status” and “will not share information with immigration authorities.”
The planned attack was previously reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Tom Homan, chosen by Mr. Trump is overseeing his promised mass deportations, saying the public should expect immigration action in the early days of the Trump administration to create “panic and fear.”
Mr. Trump has promised to deport more people from the country which will affect millions of undocumented immigrants in America. Mr. Homan said the administration will not hesitate to deport parents who are in the country illegally but have children born in the United States.
The team of Mr. Trump also plans to reassign some federal agents and local police deputies and members of the National Guard who have been volunteered by Republican-leaning districts to help with deportation efforts.
Mr. Homan tried to draw attention to so-called sanctuary cities. In November, he suggested that he would increase the number of immigration officers in those areas.
“New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, major cities in this country are still holy cities,” said Mr. workers in those homes.”
But plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants still face major financial and operational hurdles. In recent weeks, Mr. Trump and his immigration officials have said their immigration enforcement will begin targeting those with criminal records.
Mr. Trump often threatened nationwide raids when he was last in the White House, which shocked many of his ICE officials. He got mixed results.
In 2019, Mr. Trump promoted a blitz-like effort to target about 2,000 immigrants who were in the United States illegally as a show of force against immigration. 35 people were arrested in this operation.
In 2019, ICE removed more than 267,000 people — the highest annual number during the Trump administration. That pales in comparison to the peak under President Barack Obama, who deported more than 400,000 people in one year.
Julie Bosman reporting contributed.
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