Trump is planning a major immigration crackdown in Chicago on the second day, WSJ Reuters reports
(Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s new administration plans to launch a major immigration crackdown in Chicago the day after he takes office, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing four people familiar with the planning.
The raid, which is expected to begin on Tuesday, will last the whole week, the newspaper said, adding that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement will send between 100 and 200 officers to carry out the operation.
Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
His new border czar, Tom Homan, said at an event in the city that the administration “will start right here in Chicago, Illinois,” the Journal reported.
“And if the mayor of Chicago doesn’t want to help, he can step down. But if he’s obstructing us, if he’s knowingly hiding or covering up an illegal alien, I’m going to prosecute him,” he was quoted as saying.
Immigration has been at the center of Trump’s campaign ahead of the November 5 presidential election.
“Within moments of my inauguration, we will begin the largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” Trump said in January 2024.
Trump is expected to mobilize agencies across the US government to help him deport a record number of immigrants, Reuters reported, building on efforts in his first term to use all available resources and pressure so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions to cooperate.
