Federal authorities prepare to launch a mass deportation operation in Chicagoaimed at more than 300 people with a history of serious crimes. However, the administration has made it clear that other irregular immigrants could be detained in the process, marking a tightening of immigration policy.
As reported The Wall Street Journal during the week, the operation could begin on Tuesday, just one day after the inauguration of donald trump. Sources close to the administration confirmed to The Associated Press (AP) that the raids will first target immigrants with convictions for violent crimes, but which could be extended to any person in an irregular situation who is identified during the operations.
Tom Homandesignated by Trump as the new “border czar”, confirmed in an interview with Fox News that Chicago It will be one of the main focuses of the operation and he assured that similar actions would be carried out in several cities in the country.
“Let’s take off the handcuffs.” US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and let them arrest criminal foreigners, that’s what’s going to happen. What we are saying to the ICE is what they are going to do comply with immigration law without apologizing. They are going to focus on the worst first, on the threats to public safety, but no one is off the table. “If they are in the country illegally, they have a problem,” Homan said Friday during his interview with FoxNews.
Trump assured during an interview with NBCNewsthat mass deportations are a priority, although he did not give an exact date or location of when they will begin. The only thing he did affirm is that they will start soon.
“It will start very soon, very quickly. I can’t say which cities because things are evolving. And I don’t think we want to say in what city. You will see it first hand. We have to get the criminals of our country,” said the president-elect in quotes collected by AP.
Despite this information, Homan revealed during a recent interview with The Washington Post that the incoming administration reconsiders whether to launch immigration raids in Chicago starting next week after various media outlets leaked preliminary details.
The “border czar” explained that they are analyzing such a leak and that “they will make a decision based on it.”
“It’s unfortunate because anyone who leaks information about law enforcement operations puts officers at greater risk,” Homan added.
During his interview, the official revealed that he has no idea why Chicago “became a focus of attention,” but stressed that ICE will begin arresting “people who represent a threat to public and national security from day one.” ”.
“We will arrest people across the country, uninhibited by any prior guidance from the administration. I don’t know why it was specifically mentioned Chicago. This is something that It applies at the national level. We are not sweeping neighborhoods. We have a specific control plan“Homan confirmed.
Dulce Ortiz, president of the Illinois Coalition for Rights of Immigrants and Refugeeshe recently commented during an interview with Reuters Up to 200 ICE agents were expected to launch raids in the Chicago area at 5 a.m. Monday, targeting people heading to work or starting their day.
Brandon Leespokesperson for the organization, commented in dialogue with AP his belief that there is “a certain level of fear since Election Day” and that “we always acted as if Trump was going to attack Chicago and Illinois at the beginning of his administration.”
