In a significant development, there is a growing concern among the inhabitants and administration of Chicago about what appears to be a brewing intensive immigration enforcement operation. Brandon Johnson, the Mayor of Chicago, along with Illinois’ Governor, JB Pritzker, suggest that this unplanned and unlawful federal intervention may be imminent. The basis for their concern stems from an ambiguous phone call, made by Gregory Bovino, a dedicated supporter of the MAGA movement, and currently the head of the Customs and Border Patrol’s El Centro sector in Texas.
Bovino, known for his recent intimidating presence in Los Angeles, allegedly hinted that federal personnel from Texas and California are gathering at federal premises, including the renowned Great Lakes Naval Base. The assumption is that the federal government is laying groundwork for expansive immigration raids across Chicago. This maneuver could potentially strain these states’ capacity to respond effectively to local emergencies.
Complicating matters further, The New York Times reported on Sunday that the naval base is slated to serve as a logistics hub for approximately 200 Homeland Security officials, supporting imminent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Despite these alarming indications, local and state government entities have not received any official notifications regarding these operations.
At a recent media event, Governor Pritzker announced, with obvious surprise, that he was informed only a few hours prior about ICE agents preparing to enhance immigration enforcement operations across his jurisdiction. This apparent lack of coordination extends to the Illinois National Guard, who, as of Tuesday, deny receiving any directive for deployment within Chicago.
Casting a pall of uncertainty, details of these potential operations remain under wraps, fueling speculation and anxiety among Chicago’s populace. It is unclear if this will lead to a scenario where officers are taking aggressive action against civilians, such as arresting students and elderly individuals, or whether officials may simply monitor and maintain a visible presence.
Looking further into this, reports claim that Pete Hegseth, a junior member of a prominent military family, along with the Pentagon, have been strategizing a potential intervention operation in Chicago. This narrative has gained momentum with declarations from President Trump, who, during a recent press meeting, stated he intends to implement such measures, and may even extend them to other cities like Baltimore and New York.
According to President Trump, his resolve on this matter is unequivocal. He expressed his belief that he has the authority to order this action independently, even speculating that Governor Pritzker may ultimately request his intervention. Despite his claims, this situation has sparked widespread debate on its legitimacy and potential impacts.
In a contentious commentary, President Trump highlighted the city’s recent surge in violent incidents as a motivating factor for his planned intervention. Citing statistics suggesting that at least 54 people were shot in Chicago over a single weekend and highlighting eight resultant fatalities, he characterized Chicago as the most unsafe and menacing city globally.
Despite Trump’s assertions, it is essential to note that Chicago does not take the top spot in terms of danger, not even in America. To add context, eight out of the ten most dangerous cities in the United States are located in states that are politically aligned with the president’s party.
Governor Pritzker, alongside other Chicago leadership, have expressed skepticism about the federal government’s plan. They see these proposed operations as another attempt by the President to showcase his power, discrediting the move as a manipulative tactical maneuver instead of a thoughtful law enforcement initiative.
Addressing these concerns, Chicago’s leaders emphasized the unusual and disturbing lack of cooperation between the Trump administration and local law enforcement agencies in Chicago, Cook County, or the state of Illinois. They noted that state police frequently collaborate with federal agencies such as the FBI, the ATF, and the DEA to combat criminal activities from gang violence to drug trafficking.
This lack of collaboration is even more unusual considering legal perspectives on the matter. Judge Charles Breyer recently highlighted the Trump administration’s violation of the Posse Comitatus Act in a California raid. His ruling emphasized that the administration’s planned interventions in such cases were not in response to any genuine emergency.
In Los Angeles, federal officials argued that an immediate invasive procedure was necessary in MacArthur Park due to significant risks. However, despite claiming the park was abundant with drug lords, law enforcement spent weeks planning the raid, only alerting the Los Angeles Police Department a few hours prior, and no significant arrests were even reported.
Such inconsistent actions, paired with President Trump’s public desire to use military units as personal law enforcement agencies, add to overall skepticism about the emergency nature of these operations. These factors collectively raise questions about the actual purpose and potential effectiveness of the anticipated interventions and their broader implications for Chicago and potentially other cities across America.
The post Chicago Braces as Prospects of Intensive Immigration Raids Loom appeared first on Real News Now.
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