Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is gearing up to commence significant immigration enforcement operations in sanctuary cities nationwide. This initiative is set to begin immediately after President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20.
The operations, which sources have described using emphatic language, will focus on cities like Chicago and New York. These are cities where local authorities traditionally limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Starting January 21, ICE plans to conduct multi-day operations to apprehend individuals with outstanding removal orders. This aligns with the Trump administration’s stated focus on prioritizing the removal of illegal immigrants considered threats to public safety.
Tom Homan, who is slated to become Trump’s border czar, has been vocal about the upcoming enforcement actions. He has indicated that these efforts will begin on the first day of the new administration, emphasizing a significant shift in approach.
“It’s going to be a substantial operation across the country,” Homan mentioned during a Fox News interview. He expressed that ICE officers would be empowered to arrest individuals with criminal backgrounds.
Homan underlined that the primary focus will be on those identified as most dangerous. However, he warned that no one residing illegally in the country could consider themselves safe from enforcement actions.
Preparations for this operation are underway, including reallocating resources and halting arrests in some ICE offices to ensure sufficient space in detention facilities. An ICE source noted the pause in arrests as a strategic move to prepare for the upcoming operations.
In Chicago alone, the operation will involve up to 200 ICE officers, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Similar actions are expected to unfold in multiple cities across the nation, leveraging ICE’s 24 field offices.
Homan has consistently criticized sanctuary cities, arguing that they protect illegal immigrants from federal authorities. He met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams to discuss deportation efforts, with discussions reportedly touching on concerns about the status of over 320,000 migrant children.
Homan commented on what he perceives as a shift in Mayor Adams’ approach to immigration, suggesting a significant departure from his previous stance. During a December event, Homan specifically mentioned Chicago as a key target area due to local leadership’s policies.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office has not commented on the upcoming operations. Meanwhile, the incoming administration is also planning swift changes at the U.S.-Mexico border.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security, stated during her Senate confirmation hearing that one of her first actions would be to dismantle the CBP One mobile app, a program from the previous administration.
The app has facilitated over 936,500 migrant border crossings, according to federal data. Noem’s plan to eliminate the program is part of broader efforts to secure the border and enforce immigration laws.
John Fabbricatore, former director of ICE’s Denver office, noted that large-scale operations were curtailed during the Biden administration. He described the upcoming plans as a morale booster for ICE agents, who are eager to resume their duties.
While ICE has not provided specific details about the operations, the Trump transition team has expressed that aggressive immigration enforcement will be a central policy focus. Homan reiterated that ICE will enforce immigration laws firmly, with an emphasis on individuals with criminal backgrounds, though no illegal immigrant is exempt from potential enforcement actions.