In a significant move, President Donald Trump has directed federal authorities to intensify deportations of immigrants in Chicago and other Democratic-led cities amidst rising tensions related to immigration enforcement.
This directive follows a massive rally in Chicago, where tens of thousands protested against the president’s immigration policies during the No Kings rally.
Local leaders are bracing for additional immigration raids, as Mayor Brandon Johnson called upon residents to “resist” federal immigration enforcement actions.
Concerns have been raised by local officials over the legality of recent detentions of immigrants.
In a statement from Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, he commended Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and ordered them to “expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest cities,” identifying these areas as the “core of the Democrat Power Center.”
Trump expressed his ambition to initiate the “single largest Mass Deportation Program in History,” emphasizing the need for ICE to fulfill this important goal.
The actual number of individuals affected by the recent federal raids and detentions in Chicago remains unclear, as ICE has been unresponsive regarding data requests on these operations.
Cristina Pacione-Zayas, the chief of staff for Mayor Johnson, informed reporters that city officials had been alerted federal agents were to deploy within 48 hours to various Democratic-led cities, including Chicago.
She noted that these tactical units would focus on workplaces as the primary locations for the impending raids, raising significant concerns about community safety and the impact on immigrant residents.
Pacione-Zayas also indicated that Chicago could experience a law enforcement and military presence akin to what has transpired in Los Angeles in recent days.
“We’ve seen how they’ve shown up in LA with the mini tanks, with arms, with also chemical agents,” she stated, further describing the presence of officers in riot gear and concealing their identities.
In response to the unfolding situation, Mayor Johnson expressed his determination for Chicagoans to stand united against these efforts.
“It’s a war on our culture. It’s a war on our democracy. It’s a war on our humanity,” Johnson asserted.
He underscored the need for collective resistance, warning that if one vulnerable group is targeted, others will inevitably follow.
Johnson’s comments reflect the underlying atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that immigrant communities are currently facing as federal actions escalate.
Recent federal immigration enforcement measures have provoked clashes among elected officials, law enforcement, and activists, leading to protests across the nation.
The No Kings rallies, which took place on Saturday across various U.S. cities, mobilized millions, with Chicago’s event attracting an estimated 70,000 participants.
Prior to the No Kings rally, Chicago residents had already taken to the streets to protest against recent ICE raids that occurred both locally and nationwide.
These demonstrations aimed to denounce local ICE actions and express solidarity with Los Angeles, where large-scale deployments of National Guard troops and Marines occurred following unrest linked to immigration raids.
In Chicago, at least ten individuals were arrested by ICE during routine check-ins under a monitoring program for immigrants this month, further escalating tensions in an already fraught environment.
The implications of President Trump’s order on Chicago and its immigrant community remain to be seen, as local leaders and residents prepare for the potential backlash of federal actions.
image source from：https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/16/trump-orders-ice-to-expand-deportations-in-chicago-other-democrat-led-cities/
