Trump Administration to Launch Massive Immigration Raids on Day One

Trump's border policies aim to revitalize mass deportations, focusing on "sanctuary" cities and criminal elements.

In a bold move set for the first full day of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, preparations for extensive raids on illegal immigrants are underway. Sources from CBS report that these operations could commence as early as Tuesday, predominantly in Chicago, which has a significant migrant population. Tom Homan, named as Trump's "border tsar," has affirmed a commitment to orchestrate the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history, emphasizing that criminal elements and gang members will be prioritized during these raids.

In a recent interview with Fox News, Homan referred to an impending nationwide crackdown, with Chicago notably being designated as "ground zero" for these initiatives. During Trump’s previous term in 2017, similar promises were made, yet only about half the number of illegal migrants were deported compared to former President Barack Obama's first four years in office. Currently, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency routinely deport illegal migrants, but this operation is expected to disproportionately affect "sanctuary" cities that resist cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Reports suggest that ICE agents in the Chicago area are gearing up to participate in large-scale raids without prior approval from Washington, D.C. Homan has warned local communities to prepare, declaring, "January 21st, you're going to look for a lot of ICE agents in your city looking for criminals and gang members. Count on it. It will happen." Major cities slated for these actions include New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami, as confirmed by the Wall Street Journal.

Additionally, there are discussions around revoking a longstanding policy exempting churches from ICE arrests, igniting fear among local worshippers. One legal immigrant expressed anxiety over the uncertainty facing undocumented individuals, while reverend concerns focus on the potential disruption of families should a breadwinner be detained. Under the Biden administration, ICE had been instructed to prioritize high-risk individuals; however, Trump's strategy may lead to broader apprehensions, encompassing all undocumented immigrants regardless of their criminal history.

The Biden administration had previously curtailed immigration raids targeting construction sites, yet these operations are anticipated to resume. The opening of large-scale detentions poses logistical challenges due to inadequate holding space, as lawmakers prepare to advance the Laken Riley Act next week. This piece of legislation, named after a murder victim, seeks to mandate the detention of illegal migrants suspected of criminal activities, further tightening the immigration landscape under Trump’s impending leadership.