Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, announced on a recent Sunday that the Trump administration is preparing to amplify its immigration operations in Chicago, the USA’s third most populous city. This news serves to reaffirm the administration’s commitment to increase federal presence as part of its ongoing dispute with the Democratic leadership in Illinois. This pronouncement from Noem comes in the backdrop of a request made by the DHS last week for minimal logistical assistance from the authorities stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes. The mentioned military base is approximately 35 miles to the north of Chicago.
Noem noted that immigration operations were already in progress in collaboration with ICE in the city, but plans were underway to boost the existing resources. However, she refrained from giving specifics about the impending intensification of federal officers in the city. This action is part of the Trump administration’s recent national strategy, which has seen the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington D.C., primarily to address concerns related to crime, immigration, and homelessness.
Drawing parallels with the past, it’s only been a matter of two months since these troops were dispatched to Los Angeles. A contributing factor to this move is the ongoing criticism from President Trump towards the state governor, JB Pritzker, and Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson. Here, Trump’s approach towards his Democratic counterparts has consistently underscored his belief that the state leadership should proactively ‘rectify’ the crime situation in the city.
Trump’s strong opposition to the leadership in Illinois was recently made obvious via a social media post. In it, he issued a warning to Governor Pritzker, urging him to resolve Chicago’s crime issues promptly, threatening federal intervention otherwise. Similarly, the Republican president has also expressed his disappointment with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handling of the city’s affairs.
That being said, both Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson have openly resisted any possibility of an increased federal presence. They argue that crime rates in the city have been on a downward trend. They are prepared to initiate litigation should the Trump administration proceed with its plans for intervention.
Mayor Johnson has already taken definitive measures. He signed off on an edict preventing the Chicago Police Department from contributing to federal civil immigration enforcement, or any associated patrol, traffic stop or checkpoint activities during the projected surge.
As a city that boasts a large immigrant community, Chicago and, by extension, the state of Illinois, are comprised of some of the most stringent rules about cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. These rules have often led to a disconnect between the state, the city, and Trump administration, especially regarding the president’s extensive deportation plan.
The administration’s plans to escalate federal action in the city has led Governor Pritzker to speculate that it might be a strategic move aimed at influencing the 2026 elections. Hints about directly impacting these elections or controlling the electoral process have been floated in a recent interview by the Governor.
To this assertion, Noem replied that the decision to mobilize National Guard troops in the city, similar to Los Angeles during the immigration protests in June, was President Trump’s prerogative.
Noem emphasized that the action taken during the unrest in Los Angeles served as a vital lifeline for the city. Drawing on the past events, she remarked, ‘If President Trump had not taken a decisive stance, Los Angeles would be in ruins, given the inability of the city’s mayor and the state’s governor to handle the situation.’
Her statement implies the underlying belief of the Trump administration: the decision to deploy the National Guard not only helped maintain order but possibly avoided a catastrophic situation for the city as a whole.
The post Trump Administration Amplifies Immigration Operations in Chicago appeared first on Real News Now.
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