The Donald Trump administration is to begin raids that will see the detention and deportation of illegal migrants living in the US. According to reports, the operation will start on the first full day of his presidency and will target illegal migrants in sanctuary cities. Chicago, one of the largest migrant cities in the US, is likely to be the starting point. According to sources, these raids could start as early as Tuesday.
Donald Trump to carry out largest deportation program in US history: A farewell to all illegal migrants
The plans, led by Trump’s “border tsar” Tom Homan, plan to conduct the largest deportation program in US history, targeting criminals and gang members. Homan has already warned that Chicago will be the epicenter of the first phase of these mass deportations, which will then roll out across the country. In a recent interview with Fox News, Homan pointed out that these raids will be big operations, and New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami will also be expected targets.
Under President Obama, deportations were high, but Trump has promised to increase the scale of operations. The raids will particularly target sanctuary cities—jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is already active in removing illegal migrants, but these upcoming operations will focus more heavily on cities that limit ICE’s reach. Reports indicate ICE agents in Chicago have been preparing for the raids without notifying their superiors in Washington, DC.
Alarming for people without papers
Many communities have raised the issue of the effects these raids create, especially those who are part of immigrant populations. For example, in Pilsen Chicago, people within churches feared having families separated by the raids. “I’m scared, but I can’t imagine what people without papers are feeling,” D. Camacho, a Mexican legal immigrant told me.
These sweeps may not only target criminals but also include even migrants without a criminal record who have been working and living in the US for decades. Additionally, the Trump administration is likely to reverse the Biden administration’s policy of focusing on serious criminals and national security threats, meaning that deportation risks for undocumented migrants will increase all over the country.
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