Federal immigration agents carried out the first large-scale arrest operation in nationwide under the newly reinstated Trump administration this week, targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
The operation, carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), comes just days after President Donald Trump took office and signed a series of executive orders aimed at ramping up immigration enforcement.
According to ICE officials, those arrested have criminal records that include charges of sexual assault, robbery, drug and weapons offenses, and domestic violence. The arrests mark a significant escalation in enforcement efforts and signal the administration’s commitment to following through on its campaign promise of mass deportations.
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Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have been vocal in their opposition to the federal crackdown.
Governor Pritzker reiterated his stance against cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, stating that his administration has “no interest in protecting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.” He also condemned the targeting of sensitive locations such as churches and schools.
“Any notion that public spaces like churches and schools—these sanctities, these sanctuaries—should be used as a way to create political divide is not only unconscionable, but it’s reprehensible,” Pritzker said in a press conference.
Mayor Johnson reaffirmed Chicago’s status as a sanctuary city and emphasized the city’s commitment to protecting undocumented immigrants from federal enforcement efforts.
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“We have given very clear instructions to our sister agencies and all of our city departments that they should and will uphold our Welcoming City Ordinance,” Johnson stated.
Despite Trump’s new executive orders allowing ICE agents to make arrests in previously restricted locations such as churches and schools, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has taken a stance against allowing immigration agents onto school grounds without a signed federal warrant.
In an effort to reassure the city’s illegal immigrant population, Chicago officials have launched an information campaign on public transit platforms. These announcements provide illegal immigrants with guidance on their rights, including the right to remain silent and not disclose their immigration status to authorities. Phone numbers to report ICE activity have also been provided as part of the campaign.
While state and local officials continue to push back against federal immigration operations, Trump administration officials have doubled down on their efforts, defending the crackdown as necessary to protect public safety.
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Tom Homan, the administration’s recently appointed Border Czar, criticized local leaders for their refusal to cooperate with federal law enforcement.
“I’m amazed every day when I wake up that there’s an elected mayor, governor, or city council member that doesn’t want public safety threats removed from their community,” Homan said. “They should be working hand in hand with ICE to get dangerous criminals off the streets.”
With the new policies now in effect, immigrants and their advocates in Illinois are bracing for further enforcement actions and urging communities to stay informed and prepared.
For now, the tension between federal enforcement and local resistance continues to escalate, setting the stage for potential legal battles and political showdowns in the weeks ahead.
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