ICE begins 'targeted operations' in Chicago amid fears of immigration raids

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with several other federal agencies, began what they called "enhanced targeted operations" on Sunday in Chicago.

In a statement posted to social media, ICE said it was working with its federal partners "to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities."

The Drug Enforcement Administration's Chicago Office also confirmed it was working with the Justice Department and ICE on enforcement efforts. The agency's X account posted photos that appeared to show border czar Tom Homan speaking with federal agents.

Federal agents were seen surrounding a home at 99th and Commercial on Sunday afternoon, one of the locations on ICE's radar.

"It was about five or more cars and at first, I thought it was just police, but then they all just came out and I seen his badge, ICE," one neighbor said. "No one opened the door, luckily. They were out there five minutes and everyone scattered." 

Video from Citizen also showed more agents in Garfield Park. Details on other ICE sightings around the city have not been released.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shared a statement on X around 6 p.m. Sunday, assuring residents that Chicago police were not involved in the ICE visits. 

"There have been confirmed reports of ICE enforcement activity in Chicago today, Sunday, Jan. 26. Per city code, Chicago police were not involved in this immigration enforcement activity. My team and I are in close communication with city officials, including the CPD. It is imperative that all Chicagoans know their constitutional rights and share the Know Your Rights guidance with their neighbors and community," Johnson said. 

Other agencies ICE said it was working with include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the U.S. Marshals Service.

DOJ official, others in town

What we know:

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove visited Chicago on Sunday to "personally observe" immigration enforcement operations long touted by President Donald Trump.

Bove was in the nation's third-largest city "to personally observe Department of Homeland Security immigration enforcement operations" and support the efforts of assisting federal agencies, according to U.S. Department of Justice spokesman Chad Gilmartin.

Emil Bove, attorney for Donald Trump, at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. The high-profile sentencing follows a failed attempt by Trump's lawyers to persuade the US Supreme Court to delay the hearing as he prepares

Homan accompanied Bove on the visit, along with television personality Dr. Phil, who spoke about the mission in a video posted Sunday morning on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

"It's a pretty high risk mission that we're going on. This truly is a targeted ICE mission because they're not sweeping neighborhoods like people are trying to imply. I know that because I've been involved in this, heading into this. They've identified 270 high value targets. What I mean by that is these are known criminals and terrorists. We're talking about murderers, child traffickers, child rapists. We're talking about bad actors, both in the countries they've come from and since they've been here in the United States," Dr. Phil said. "That's who ICE is targeting to bring out of these communities. We're going after specific targets, not just sweeping neighborhoods and picking up anyone that looks like they don't belong here. Anybody belongs here."

Messages left for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ATF and FBI officials were not immediately returned to the Associated Press.

A city on edge

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ICE agents spotted in Chicago area on Sunday, Jan. 26.  (Provided to FOX 32 )

Local perspective:

Chicago residents, especially in immigrant circles, have already been on edge for months in anticipation of large-scale immigration arrests promised by the Trump administration.

Immigrant rights groups have tried to prepare with campaigns for immigrants to know their rights in case of an arrest. City officials have done the same, publishing similar information at hundreds of public transit stations.

A local immigrant advocacy group filed a lawsuit on Saturday against the Trump administration and ICE over their planned deportation raids.

On Friday, Chicago Public Schools officials mistakenly believed ICE agents had come to a city elementary school and put out statements to that effect before learning the agents were from the Secret Service. Word of immigration agents at a school — which have long been off limits to immigration agents until Trump ended the policy last week — drew swift criticism from community groups and Gov. JB Pritzker.

What they're saying:

The Democratic governor, a frequent Trump critic, questioned the operations and targeting immigrants.

"We need to get rid of the violent criminals. But we also need to protect people, at least the residents of Illinois and all across the nation, who are just doing what we hope that immigrants will do," Pritzker said Sunday on CNN’s "State of the Union."

Chicago has been one of Trump's favorite targets. The city has some of the strongest sanctuary protections, which bar cooperation between city police and immigration agents.

On Saturday, several immigrant rights groups sued ICE, seeking an injunction prohibiting certain types of immigration raids in Chicago.

"Immigrant communities who have called Chicago their home for decades are scared," said Antonio Gutierrez from Organized Communities Against Deportation, one of the plaintiffs. "We refuse to live in fear and will fight any attempts to roll back the work we’ve done to keep families together."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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