CHICAGO — New President Donald Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan is reluctant to carry out a leaked plan to flood Chicago with immigration agents in the first week of the president-elect’s term, he said. -he declared Saturday in an interview with the Washington Post.
Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told the Washington Post that he “hasn’t made a decision yet” about a plan first reported by the Wall Street Journal and New York. York Times aiming to send 150 to 200 ICE agents to the city. from Tuesday.
“We are reviewing this leak and will make a decision based on this leak,” Homan told the Washington Post. “This is unfortunate because anyone who discloses law enforcement operations puts officers at greater risk.”
He went on to say that he didn’t know “why Chicago was mentioned specifically” and explained that the new administration’s intended focus was much broader than just Chicago.
The “Operation Safeguard” plan was to launch the day after Trump’s inauguration and continue through the following Monday, according to two unnamed current federal agents and a former official who spoke to The New York Times. Now, Homan wants to make clear that ICE’s commitment to specifically targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records or who have escaped deportation in the past will be a “nationwide thing,” he said. he told the Washington Post.
“ICE will begin stopping threats to public safety and national security on day one,” he said. “We will arrest people across the country, unencumbered by the directives of the previous administration. … We don’t sweep neighborhoods. We have a targeted enforcement plan.
The Trump administration is preparing for what it considers the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. An executive order declaring a state of emergency at the southern border will most likely be signed on Monday, Trump’s first day in office, according to Politico.
Previous announcements of major raids by the Trump administration have caused panic, but have not led to mass expulsions. In 2019, 2,000 migrants were targeted in raids across the country, but only 35 were arrested, the Times reported.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus issued a statement Sunday denouncing the Trump administration’s “unconstitutional” deportation aspirations, saying ICE raids violate a person’s Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful searches and seizures.
“We recognize the deep anxiety, fear and apprehension that these actions bring to our communities,” the caucus said. “CHC is committed to serving as a resource and advocate for all families impacted by the new administration’s unconstitutional actions, and we will continue to fight for the rights, safety and dignity of all communities.”
Meanwhile, Homan condemned those who leaked the operation and declined to comment on whether or not there was a specific plan to send ICE agents to Chicago, choosing to defer to regional officials of the ICE.
Last month, Homan announced that mass eviction efforts would “start right here in Chicago” at an event in the Northwest, sparking widespread backlash across the city.
Mayor Brandon Johnson was absent from a press conference Saturday morning about the Trump administration’s targeting of Chicago, but touted his administration’s dedication to progressive values in an X-rated article Sunday.
“Chicago remains strong: whatever the circumstances, our commitment to protecting and supporting this city remains unwavering. We will continue to fight for justice and the safety of all who live here,” he said.
The back-and-forth frenzy comes after Chicago maintained its sanctuary city status in a 39-11 City Council vote against the changes Wednesday, meaning local law enforcement cannot still not helping ICE officials with deportations or raids. This does not mean that ICE agents cannot conduct operations within Chicago city limits.
Before Homan confirmed that plans to raid Chicago were not yet set in stone, Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) told Block Club that he and other city officials privately doubted the Trump administration’s ability to mobilize ICE so soon after taking office.
“I don’t think (the Trump administration) really has the resources to escalate policy the way it’s starting to do, but they want people to believe that a big change is happening,” he said. Vasquez. “It’s really about communication and messaging.”
Anyone has the right to refuse entry to an ICE agent, even undocumented immigrants. Learn more about what immigrant communities should know about their rights here.
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