Trump deportation plan set to begin next week in Chicago

The new Trump administration intends to conduct “post-inauguration” immigration raids in Chicago next week, according to two people familiar with the planning and correspondence reviewed by The New York Times, a first step toward the goal by President-elect Donald J. Trump to oversee the largest deportation operation in American history.

The plan, called “Operation Safeguard” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, would begin Tuesday, the day after Mr. Trump’s inauguration, and last until the following Monday, according to people familiar with it and correspondence. However, the dates are still being finalized and could change.

The scale of the planned operation was unclear. ICE routinely carries out deportations in cities across the United States. But the agency was taking additional steps to strengthen enforcement and linked it to Mr. Trump’s inauguration in a message sent to agency staff.

Hundreds of agents were asked to volunteer and participate in the “post-inauguration” operation targeting illegal immigrants in the United States. ICE plans to send about 150 agents to Chicago for the raids.

For Mr. Trump, the image of immigration agents sporting ballistic gear and arresting immigrants of uncertain or disputed status in a Democratic-run city might be enough. The new administration is eager to find ways to send the message that it is cracking down on undocumented immigrants and punishing so-called sanctuary cities — communities like Chicago that refuse to turn over immigrants detained by police to federal authorities of immigration.

Don Terry, a Chicago police spokesman, said the department “will not intervene or interfere with other government agencies in the performance of their duties” but said it “does not does not document immigration status” and “will not share information with federal immigration authorities.” .”