The incoming Trump administration is ready to “take the handcuffs off” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a senior administration official said, aiming to arrest illegal immigrants across the United States as early as the first day.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration is planning a major raid in Chicago on Tuesday, specifically targeting people with criminal records.
Incoming border czar Tom Homan was asked by Fox News’ Jesse Watters about media coverage of Tuesday’s “massive raid” in Chicago, but Homan said ICE will operate across the United States. Ta.
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“There will be massive raids across the country. Chicago is just one of many locations. We have 24 field offices across the country. On Tuesday, ICE finally showed up. We’re going to do our job. We’re going to go.’ If we take the handcuffs off ICE and arrest criminal aliens, that’s what’s going to happen,” he said.
“What we’re telling ICE is that you’re going to enforce our immigration laws without apology. You’re going to focus first on the worst cases, threats to public safety first. “No one is off the table. If you enter the country illegally, you have a problem,” he said.
The administration has promised a mass deportation operation as well as increased border security. Officials said they intended to target people with criminal records or convictions, but also stressed that anyone in the United States could be illegally arrested. Currently, ICE has more than 7 million individuals on its non-custodial records.
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“The administration has been clear that they will start making arrests from day one, and Chicago probably won’t be the only place they will be made,” the official told Fox News Digital.
The government is expected to face significant backlash from “sanctuary” cities where state and local law enforcement agencies refuse to respect ICE detainees, and illegal immigrants in custody will be released. In such cases, they are required to notify ICE.
Some Democratic officials in Chicago, Massachusetts and Arizona have said they will not cooperate with the administration.
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But New York City Mayor Eric Adams met with Mr. Homan to discuss how they could work together to remove undocumented immigrants convicted of violent crimes.
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Homeland Security candidate Kristi Noem testified before Congress on Friday, expressing support for mass deportation operations and increased border security. He also said his administration would immediately end the use of the CBP One app, which currently allows immigrants to be paroled into the United States.
Adam Shaw is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
Contact him at adam.shaw2@fox.com or at: Twitter.
