The Trump administration plans to increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in major cities, including Chicago. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed this, stating that more resources will be allocated to existing ICE operations. While she wouldn't detail specifics, including the potential use of National Guard troops, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed concern about a possible surge in federal law enforcement. This follows a similar deployment in Washington, D.C., and threats to send federal officers to other cities. Democratic officials, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, strongly criticized the plan, accusing the administration of targeting Democrat-led states. Noem, however, denied this, claiming all cities are evaluated based on safety needs.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.