Officials in Chicago are bracing for a major federal immigration enforcement operation that could begin as soon as this week, with the city’s mayor signing an order over the weekend aimed at resisting the Trump administration’s planned crackdown.
JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, declared on Sunday that such a move would be considered a “invasion” and that he has not spoken to the Trump administration over rumored plans to send National Guard troops to Chicago.
“Neither I nor anybody else in my administration has received a call from the president or anyone working beneath him. Therefore, it’s obvious that they are secretly organizing this—well, if they do it, it’s an invasion with US forces,” Pritzker stated on Sunday.
According to many people familiar with the preparations, the operation is anticipated to begin in Chicago by this Friday and may involve agents from Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and could be supported by guard forces in a peacekeeping capacity.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” Sunday that “we already have ongoing operations with ICE in Chicago and throughout Illinois and other states, making sure that we’re upholding our laws, but we do intend to add more resources to those operations.”
President Donald Trump and his advisors have frequently criticized Chicago for policies that restrict collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. An immigration operation in the city would intensify a conflict between the White House and Democratic-led localities.
Noem responded that the Trump administration has “not taken anything off the table” when asked about growing these operations outside of Chicago, mentioning Boston and San Francisco in particular. She implied that Republican-run cities with criminal issues were “absolutely” being assessed as well.
With Mayor Brandon Johnson signing an executive order on Saturday that gives direction and instructions to the city’s agencies and law enforcement “in the midst of escalating threats from the federal government,” Chicago has been getting ready to try to thwart Trump’s planned immigration crackdown.
Chicago police officers will not “cooperate with federal agents on joint law enforcement patrols, arrest operations, or other law enforcement duties including civil immigration enforcement,” according to the mayor’s order. It also “urges” federal law enforcement officers to use body cameras and refrain from wearing masks.
“Military immigration enforcement may be implemented. We might also see troops from the National Guard. In our streets, we might even spot armed cars and active duty military personnel. We have not called for this. Our people have not asked for this, but nevertheless, we find ourselves having to respond to this,” Johnson said before signing the executive order on Saturday.
The president’s proposal over the past week to use National Guard troops and federal law enforcement to conduct a larger crime crackdown in Chicago, akin to the current surge in Washington, DC, is different from these immigration enforcement plans, White House officials have made clear.
Trump celebrated what he called a “massive victory over crime” in the nation’s capital on social media Monday morning. He also took aim at Democratic leaders nationwide for rejecting his proposed plans for a vigorous federal anti-crime effort in their states.
He compared what he perceives to be a more hospitable attitude from Washington, DC’s leadership with politicians who are opposing his ideas. Trump claimed that DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s “statements and actions were positive, instead of others like Pritzker, Wes Moore, Newscum, and the 5% approval rated Mayor of Chicago, who spend all of their time trying to justify violent crime, instead of working with us to completely ELIMINATE it” in the Truth Social post.
Trump officials have been quick to criticize the Illinois governor and defend potential federal policing in the state by pointing to crime statistics.
In a jab at the governor, Noem cited Chicago crime numbers on Sunday, claiming Pritzker “can talk about what a great job he’s doing as governor, but he’s failing these families.” It appears like Governor Pritzker is now more concerned with boosting his ego than with truly defending his constituents.
Trump threatened Pritzker on Saturday, saying that if he didn’t “straighten” up crime in Chicago, the federal government might step in.
“JB Pritzker, the feeble and pitiful governor of Illinois, just stated that he doesn’t need assistance in stopping crime after six people were slain and twenty-four were shot in Chicago last weekend. He is insane! We’re coming if he doesn’t get things straightened up quickly! Trump shared something on Truth Social.
Over the holiday weekend, at least 56 individuals were shot in Chicago, seven of them fatally. According to incident notifications released by the Chicago Police Department, since Friday at 10:32 p.m., there have been about 34 gunshots, with victims ranging in age from 14 to 48.
A 32.3% drop in homicides this year and a 21.6% drop in violent crime overall were reported by the Chicago mayor’s office last week.
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