ICE reinforcements bound for Chicago under direction of Homeland Security Secretary Noem, targeting immigration enforcement intensification

The Trump administration is stepping up its efforts to control immigration in Chicago, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcing plans to expand immigration operations in the city. This move is part of the "Operation Midway Blitz," targeting "criminal illegal aliens."

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem revealed these plans, stating it as a Trump "prerogative" whether to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago. Noem has compared the potential impact of Trump's actions in Chicago to the situation in Los Angeles, suggesting that without Trump's intervention, the city would have "burned."

The expanded operations will involve a greater presence of federal agents, with ICE currently hiring 10,000 agents. However, Noem declined to provide further details about the planned surge of federal officers.

Chicago, known for its large immigrant population, has strong rules against cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts. In response to the DHS's plans, Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an order barring the Chicago Police Department from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement during the surge.

The officials have stated their intention to sue if Trump moves forward with the plan. Governor JB Pritzker has accused President Trump's expected plans to mobilize federal forces in Chicago of being a plan to "stop the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take control of those elections."

Pritzker and Johnson have pushed back against the expected federal mobilization, claiming that crime has fallen in Chicago. President Trump, on the other hand, has lashed out at Illinois' Democratic leadership, including Pritzker and Johnson.

The DHS has requested logistical support from officials at the Naval Station Great Lakes, located approximately 35 miles north of Chicago, to support the anticipated operations. Secretary Noem stated that there have already been ongoing operations with ICE in Chicago.

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