The Trump administration is reconsidering plans to launch large-scale immigration raids in Chicago next week after details of the operation were leaked, according to incoming "border czar" Tom Homan. The leaked information has prompted a review, raising uncertainty about the timing and execution of the operation, initially planned to coincide with President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), told the Washington Post on Saturday that no final decision has been made regarding the Chicago operation. Federal immigration officers had reportedly planned to target approximately 300 undocumented immigrants, focusing on individuals with criminal records. The enforcement operation, scheduled to begin on Tuesday and last for a week, was set to involve as many as 200 ICE agents, according to sources cited by the Associated Press.
The leak has intensified scrutiny of the operation and its broader implications for Trump's immigration agenda, a cornerstone of his presidential campaign. Speaking to ABC News, Homan confirmed that the administration is reviewing the plans in light of the breach. "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," Homan said.
President-elect Trump has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to mass deportations as a priority for his administration. In an interview with ABC News, he said, "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." Trump declined to disclose the specific cities targeted or the timing of future deportation operations but indicated they would begin swiftly after he takes office.
Chicago, a sanctuary city that limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities, has been at the forefront of resistance to Trump's immigration policies. The Chicago Police Department reaffirmed its commitment to the city's Welcoming City Ordinance, which prohibits local law enforcement from sharing information with federal immigration authorities. "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 department said in a statement to ABC 7.
Advocacy groups and community leaders in Chicago have expressed alarm over the leaked plans and the broader implications of Trump's immigration policies. Brandon Lee, a spokesperson for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said to the Associated Press, "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."
Dulce Ortiz, president of the same organization, told Reuters that ICE agents were expected to begin raids early Monday morning, targeting individuals as they started their daily routines. She noted that fear among immigrant communities has escalated, especially with Chicago identified as a likely focal point of the administration's early enforcement efforts.
Homan defended the planned operations in an interview with Fox News, stating that the agency had carefully planned the raids and identified individuals for enforcement. "Every target for this operation is well-planned, and the whole team will be out there for officers' safety reasons," he said. Homan criticized sanctuary city policies, arguing they pose risks to public safety by forcing ICE officers to pursue targets in communities rather than in custody. "They are not going to stop us," Homan said, urging local officials to assist with the deportation efforts.
Despite the administration's resolve, the leak has raised significant security concerns and sparked political debate. Federal officials have not provided additional details about the raids or the status of the review. The Wall Street Journal reported that the operation was designed to target undocumented individuals with criminal records, including minor offenses that the Biden administration had deprioritized.
