U.S. federal authorities have launched immigration raids in Chicago, confirming a statement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sunday, incoming “border czar” Tom Hone said to Pres. Officials “reconsidered” after the details were leaked.
In a statementICE said its agents, along with the FBI, ATF, DEA, CBP and the U.S. Marshals Service, in Chicago “enforce U.S. immigration law and promote public safety and national security.” “Better targeted operations” have been launched to protect the security of our communities.
It comes The Washington Post reported Ice officials have been directed by Trump administration officials to increase daily arrests from a few hundred to 1,200 to 1,500.
Trump is frustrated with the deportation drive so far, the outlet said, citing four people with knowledge of the briefing, and that the Icefield office must process 75 arrests a day and managers are meeting quota targets. will be held accountable for
Chicago, which Trump administration officials have warned will be ground zero for immigration enforcement efforts, is working on the launch of deportation raids. An estimated 400,000 undocumented people in many regions are believed to have stayed at home to avoid potential interactions with federal law enforcement.
On Friday, federal officials approached a school on Chicago’s southwest side, but initial reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were involved turned out to be false.
The Secret Service later said its agents were investigating a threat and that their investigation was related to a threat to “security” related to TikTok.
Donald Trump last week signed executive orders designed to reverse Biden-era immigration policies and declared a state of emergency on the US-Mexico border, allowing federal agencies to step up law enforcement efforts. Granted, including deporting anyone who poses a national security threat. .
The Justice Department has directed federal prosecutors to investigate state or local officials who are believed to be interfering with immigration policies. Under an executive directive, law enforcement agencies are allowed to arrest people in places like schools and churches where immigration enforcement action was previously blocked.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. But deportation flights for some of those already arrested have met with resistance.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially said on Sunday that his country would not accept deportation flights from the United States until the Trump administration treated Colombian migrants with “dignity and respect.” will not provide the process.
Trump said he had been told the two repatriation flights bound for Colombia were not allowed to land in the country.
The US president said he could double the 25% tariffs on Colombia. Ban travel to the US for Colombian government officials. and enhanced customs and border protection inspections of all Colombian nationals and cargo entering the United States on national security grounds.
“These steps are just the beginning,” Trump added. I forced!”
But two hours later Petro resisted U.S. pressure, saying he had arranged for the presidential plane to “facilitate the dignified return of Colombian citizens who will arrive in the country this morning, on deportation flights.” Coming from,” Read a statement issued on Sunday.
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However, it is not clear if Petro’s exemption applies only to the two flights, which carried about 80 detainees, diverted to Honduras or if they will be accepted on future US-owned flights. Agreed.
Although the administration’s refugee deportation efforts have focused on lawbreakers and people involved in gang activity, including members of Venezuela’s Tren d’Argua and El Salvador’s Mara Salotrucha, commonly known as MS-13, Known by name, officials have not detained others who could not be implicated. measures of arrest.
Before Trump’s inauguration last week, unnamed officials said immigration officials would target more than 300 people in the Chicago area, focusing on those with a history of violent crime.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported news of the operation, said ICE would send between 100 and 200 officers to carry out the operation. But an official with the new administration told Reuters that Chicago would not be a special focus.
Local and state Democratic leaders, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, have vowed to protect immigrant Chicagoans from any planned raids.
“Separating these families is not acceptable to Americans,” Pritzker said after Trump took office. He said noncitizens convicted of violent crimes should be deported, but they should be separated from legal immigrants.
“We will do everything we can to stand up for them in the state of Illinois and protect them,” Pritzer said. “They’re good for our state. They’re good for our economy. They’re paying taxes. These are law-abiding people who often stabilize communities.
