Raids to imprison and deport undocumented immigrants in the United States are scheduled to begin on President-elect Donald Trump’s first full day in office, according to sources speaking with CBS, the BBC’s US partner.
It is unclear where these operations, which have been threatened by Trump’s “border tsar” Tom Homan, would commence.
Earlier reports suggested deportations could start in Chicago, a city with a significant migrant population, as early as Tuesday. However, Homan told The Washington Post on Saturday that the Trump administration is reconsidering after the location was leaked.
Trump has pledged to oversee the largest deportation program in US history. Homan has emphasized that criminals and gang members will be prioritized in these raids. “ICE will start arresting public safety threats and national security threats on day one,” Homan told the Post. “We’ll be arresting people across the country, uninhibited by any prior administration guidelines. Why Chicago was mentioned specifically, I don’t know.”
Speaking to Fox News, Homan described the impending deportation efforts as a “big raid” but clarified that they would be “targeted enforcement operations” rather than indiscriminate actions. He assured viewers that these operations would be “well planned.” “When ICE goes out, they’re going to know exactly who they’re looking for and pretty much where they’ll find them,” he said.
Homan anticipates that deportation flights will begin during Trump’s first week in office. He also expects daily lawsuits from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “I’m sure we’ll be sued, but bring it,” he said.
Ahead of his first presidential term in 2017, Trump also promised mass deportations but ultimately removed fewer immigrants than his predecessor, Barack Obama. However, the new administration comes into office with substantial support for its border policies. A New York Times and Ipsos poll published Saturday found 55% of Americans either strongly or somewhat support mass deportations.
While Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) routinely deports migrants living in the US without permission, the planned operation following Trump’s inauguration is expected to target sanctuary cities, which limit cooperation with federal immigration officials. According to CBS, these cities include New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Miami, and Chicago.
CBS also reported that ICE officials in the Chicago area recently asked agents to participate in the raids without notifying agency heads in Washington, DC. The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sources saying some operations could include locations previously considered off-limits, such as churches.
In Chicago, worshippers at the Lincoln United Methodist Church in the predominantly Latino Pilsen neighborhood expressed concern. “I’m scared, but I can’t imagine what people without papers are feeling,” said D Camacho, a 21-year-old legal immigrant from Mexico. Reverend Emma Lozano added, “If someone with five children gets taken, who will take the children in? Will they go to social services? Will the family be divided?”
Under Democratic President Joe Biden, ICE was generally directed to prioritize arrests of serious criminals, recent border crossers, or individuals posing national security threats. While Trump’s team has indicated it will initially focus on migrants with criminal records, reports suggest that all undocumented migrants—regardless of their length of residence or criminal history—may face a higher risk of arrest and deportation.
