The Trump administration is gearing up for a sweeping immigration enforcement operation in Chicago that could kick off as soon as next week, multiple sources tell FnNewz — marking the latest flashpoint between the president and one of America’s largest Democratic-led cities.
For years, Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of Chicago’s “sanctuary” policies, which limit local police cooperation with federal immigration agents. The city also saw a surge of new arrivals during the Biden administration, driven by increased migration at the U.S.-Mexico border and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s move to bus migrants to Democratic strongholds.
Chicago was one of the first cities targeted for immigration sweeps when Trump took office in January 2017. His administration even sued the city over its sanctuary stance, though a judge tossed the case for lack of standing and blocked attempts to withhold federal funds.
A Larger-Scale Operation
The upcoming Chicago plan is expected to be bigger than past efforts, potentially involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other federal agencies. The National Guard could be tapped to provide a “peacekeeping” presence — similar to what was seen in Los Angeles during protest‑related unrest, sources said.
Preparations are already underway: armored vehicles are being sent in, and a surge of federal agents is anticipated by Friday, Sept. 5, the tentative start date. The plan is still in flux, but Chicago is clearly in the administration’s sights.
White House officials stress this is separate from Trump’s recently floated idea of a broader federal crime crackdown in the city, modeled on a law enforcement surge currently underway in Washington, D.C.
Modeled After Los Angeles
Officials say the blueprint comes from Los Angeles, where the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has aggressively touted its success — announcing 5,000 arrests since June. Social media posts from DHS have highlighted the arrests and emphasized targeting violent offenders.
White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed the Chicago planning is ongoing and noted discussions about using a Naval base north of the city as a staging area. The Navy declined to comment.
“It will be a large contingent,” Homan said. “You can see a ramp up of operation in Chicago, absolutely.”
The same official who led the Los Angeles sweeps — Gregory Bovino, chief patrol agent of the El Centro sector — is expected to head up the Chicago push.
A senior DHS official told CNN: “Across the country, DHS law enforcement are arresting and removing the worst of the worst… ICE and CBP are working overtime to deliver on the American people’s mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens and make America safe again.”
National Guard’s Role — and Legal Limits
If deployed, National Guard troops would likely operate under Title 10 orders, meaning they’d be federalized and prohibited from direct law enforcement by the Posse Comitatus Act. That’s different from the Title 32 status used in D.C., where legal authority is more flexible due to the district’s unique governance.
Legal experts note that trying a D.C.-style deployment in Illinois would raise far more legal hurdles. Still, administration officials insist the immigration operation falls squarely within the president’s executive authority.
Fierce Pushback from Illinois Leaders
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blasted Trump’s suggestions of a larger federal presence, accusing the administration of trying to “militarize our cities and end elections.” He also criticized federal officials for failing to alert state or city leaders ahead of the reported deployment.
