Chicago: Federal immigration officers are gearing up to target over 300 individuals with serious criminal backgrounds. This is part of President-elect Donald Trump’s promise for large-scale deportations.
The focus will be on the Chicago area, with arrests expected throughout the week. While ICE usually captures only a fraction of its targets, Trump’s approach is set to be broader than that of President Biden, who mainly focused on serious threats.
Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming border czar, stated that ICE will be allowed to enforce immigration laws more aggressively. He emphasized that anyone in the country illegally could face consequences.
Trump reiterated that mass deportations are a priority, although he didn’t specify when or where they would start. He mentioned that the operations could be affected by the cold weather expected in Chicago.
Advocates for immigrants have been preparing for this since Trump made deportations a key part of his campaign. Chicago has strong protections for undocumented individuals, and local leaders have vowed to uphold these commitments.
Community groups are working to inform immigrants about their rights, including how to respond if approached by ICE. They’re also creating systems to alert people about potential arrests.
At a recent press conference, local representatives urged immigrants to stay calm and know their rights, especially the right to remain silent and not let officers into their homes without a warrant.
