Immigration Sweep Planned for Chicago
The Trump administration is gearing up to send over 200 homeland security agents to Chicago as part of a significant immigration operation, with the Great Lakes at the U.S. Navy Station set to be the main hub for these efforts.
Following this announcement, more than 140 illegal firearms have been confiscated. This comes in light of a recent decision to centralize the Washington, D.C. metropolitan police station under federal control, as stated by Attorney General Pam Bondy.
Tom Homan from the White House’s border enforcement team confirmed on Thursday that the Great Lakes Naval Base would be utilized for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. Additionally, he noted that there are plans to extend these operations to other major Democratic-led cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle.
“We don’t plan to disclose how many resources we’re allocating to Chicago,” Homan mentioned. “The less the bad guys know, the better.”
He highlighted Chicago’s crime rate, indicating that there would be an uptick in enforcement activities in both Chicago and New York.
Moreover, Homan took aim at the policies of Democratic sanctuary cities, claiming that these areas harbor risks as they release illegal immigrants without cooperation from ICE. “These sanctuary cities are aware that public safety is compromised daily,” he remarked.
According to internal notes accessed by the New York Times, the operation will involve around 200 homeland security agents, and the naval base will serve as a logistical center for these immigration activities.
In response, Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized the administration’s plan, expressing concerns that his city could face similar aggressive crackdowns seen in Los Angeles last June.
“This appears to mirror Los Angeles tactics, where ICE agents were leveraged to justify further escalations by federal authorities,” Johnson emphasized.
“We will fight any moves that jeopardize the safety of Chicago residents for political objectives,” he added.
Governor JB Pritzker (D-Ill.) echoed these sentiments, describing the possible deployment of federal forces as government overreach.
“We’re already dealing with real crises. Trump’s actions are unprecedented and unjust. There’s no emergency justifying military intervention,” Pritzker insisted.
Illinois Democratic leaders have reacted similarly to Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who recently acknowledged that federal agents deployed to her city worked to address violent crime through police centralization.
Nevertheless, the Trump administration remains focused on the operation, emphasizing a commitment to restoring safety across communities—a continuation of the “Make America Great Again” mantra.
“President Trump has made it clear that our goal is to enhance safety in cities. Across the nation, DHS is targeting serious offenders, including gang members and violent criminals,” noted the New York Post.
