Raids to detain and deport undocumented migrants are set to begin on the first full day of Donald Trump’s presidency, United States media reports have revealed.
These operations will target major cities, including Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles.
Incoming “border tsar” Tom Homan, who will oversee the operations, promised aggressive enforcement. “January 21st, you’re going to look for a lot of ICE agents in your city looking for criminals and gang members,” Homan said during a Republican gathering in Chicago. “Count on it. It will happen.”
The raids will target sanctuary cities, which limit cooperation with federal immigration officials. In addition to Chicago, cities like Denver and Miami are also expected to face these enforcement actions, according to sources cited by *The Wall Street Journal.*
Under the previous administration, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency prioritized arrests of undocumented migrants with serious criminal records, recent border crossers, or those deemed national security threats. Trump’s administration plans to widen this scope to include all undocumented migrants, even those with no criminal history who have lived and worked in the U.S. for years.
The raids are expected to resume workplace enforcement, especially at construction sites where undocumented workers are often employed.
The impending actions have already sparked fear in migrant communities. Advocacy groups are assisting undocumented farm workers by offering legal advice and helping parents assign guardians for their children in case of detention. “The administration is not yet sworn in, but people are already afraid,” said Sarait Martinez, director of a support group for Mexican farm workers in California.
Critics warn that the raids could face challenges, such as limited detention space for those arrested. Advocacy groups and legal experts argue that these measures could also overwhelm immigration courts.
Trump’s administration is reportedly considering ending policies that make churches off-limits for ICE arrests.
In addition, lawmakers are set to pass the controversial Laken Riley Act, named after a college student murdered in Georgia by a Venezuelan man with a prior arrest record. The law would require authorities to detain undocumented migrants suspected of criminal activity, even without formal charges.
