Trump to begin large-scale immigration raids in Chicago

01/22/2025 / By Ava Grace

President Donald Trump plans to launch a large-scale immigration raid in Chicago, targeting illegal immigrants, particularly those with criminal backgrounds, as part of the largest mass deportation operation in American history.
Chicago, a sanctuary city, is a key battleground due to its significant illegal immigrant population and its Democratic leadership’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
The operation faces logistical challenges, including a $230 million ICE budget shortfall and a lack of detention facilities to house potential detainees.
Critics warn that mass deportations could disrupt the economy, particularly in industries like agriculture, where undocumented workers make up a large portion of the labor force.
The Trump administration remains committed to the operation, citing national security and public safety as top priorities despite financial and logistical hurdles.

President Donald Trump is set to launch a massive immigration raid in Chicago.

According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers will descend on the Windy City in what is being described as the opening salvo of the largest deportation operation in American history.

The operation, expected to begin the first week of his presidency and last until the next week, will focus primarily on illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds. However, sources who spoke with the Wall Street Journal indicate that ICE personnel will likely arrest anyone else they find to be in the country illegally. (Related: Trump administration plans mass deportations, cuts to sanctuary cities on Day One.)

Chicago, a self-proclaimed “sanctuary city,” has long been a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration. Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions where local authorities refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, often shielding illegal immigrants from deportation. Chicago’s Democratic mayor, Brandon Johnson, has vowed to maintain the city’s sanctuary policies, even as the Trump administration prepares to take action.

The choice of Chicago as the first target is no coincidence. The city is home to a significant population of illegal immigrants, and Trump has repeatedly clashed with the city’s and the state’s Democratic leadership over their refusal to assist federal immigration authorities.

Battle between Trump and sanctuary cities to begin in Chicago

The stakes are high for both sides. For the Trump administration, this operation represents the first step in delivering on a promise to remove millions of illegal immigrants from the country. For Chicago and other sanctuary cities, it is a test of their resolve to resist federal enforcement efforts.

The logistics of such a large-scale operation are daunting. ICE currently faces a $230 million budget shortfall and lacks the detention facilities needed to house the thousands of individuals who could be arrested. According to ICE’s website, there are no available beds in Chicago’s detention centers, raising questions about where detainees will be held before deportation.

Critics of the plan argue that mass deportations would be prohibitively expensive and could disrupt the economy. Undocumented immigrants make up a significant portion of the workforce in industries like agriculture, where they account for 40 percent of laborers. Removing them could lead to labor shortages and higher prices for goods.

Despite these challenges, Trump and his team remain undeterred. Border Czar Tom Homan has emphasized that national security and public safety are the administration’s top priorities.

“I don’t put a price on our national security,” he said.

Watch this Fox News clip featuring Border Czar Tom Homan discussing Trump’s week-one deportation operations.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.