The incoming Trump administration is reportedly preparing to escalate operations targeting unauthorized immigrants in major U.S. cities next week, with a focus on “sanctuary” jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, according to two sources familiar with the plans.
Deportation teams from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are expected to focus on areas with significant immigrant populations, including the Chicago region, one source disclosed.
In an interview on Fox News, incoming White House “border czar” Tom Homan confirmed reports of a potential ICE operation in Chicago, initially detailed by The Wall Street Journal. Homan stated, “There’s gonna be a big raid all across the country.”
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to initiate an aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration immediately after his inauguration, promising to launch the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. The incoming administration is anticipated to reverse Biden-era policies that limited ICE’s enforcement priorities. These policies typically focused on serious criminals, recent border-crossers, and national security threats, sparing long-term undocumented immigrants without criminal records from deportation.
Homan has also announced plans to reinstate large-scale workplace immigration raids targeting employers who hire undocumented workers, a practice halted under the Biden administration.
While the new administration will prioritize unauthorized immigrants with criminal records, Homan has emphasized that no individual residing in the U.S. unlawfully will be exempt from enforcement. Operations could result in “collateral arrests,” where ICE agents apprehend unauthorized immigrants encountered during raids who are not the primary targets.
This strategy signals a significant shift in U.S. immigration enforcement policy, reflecting Trump’s campaign promise to address illegal immigration on a sweeping scale.
