Sources told The Wall Street Journal on Friday that the Trump administration is scheduled to begin its long-promised mass deportation program on Tuesday morning in Chicago. The sources expect the immigration raid to take approximately one week and said the job will require “between 100 and 200 officers” to carry out.
Sources said the Trump transition team selected Chicago as the starting point due to its status as a sanctuary city with a high number of targets, as well as President-elect Donald Trump’s ongoing feud with the city’s far-left mayor, Brandon Johnson.
The administration’s incoming border czar Tom Homan has often said they will pursue illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds before expanding their operations.
During a December visit to the Windy City, Homan stated, “We’re going to start right here in Chicago, Illinois. And if the Chicago mayor doesn’t want to help, he can step aside. But if he impedes us, if he knowingly harbors or conceals an illegal alien, I will prosecute him.”
Illinois’ Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker responded to Homan’s threat through the media, saying, “I’m going to make sure to follow the law. I’m concerned that the Trump administration and his lackeys aren’t going to follow the law.”
Frankly, I wouldn’t put anything past Gov. Pritzker or the mayors of most large sanctuary cities. They have stopped enforcing U.S. immigration laws and, in many cases, they’ve put the welfare of illegals ahead of U.S. citizens.
Ahead of the expected deportations, many organizations in sanctuary cities are working with immigrants to inform them of their rights, provide legal assistance, and educate them on how to respond if approached by ICE agents.
The Wall Street Journal argues that the mass deportations might serve as a “shock” to the economy that could cause labor shortages in some industries, “particularly in the food, construction and service industries.”
To the extent that’s true, the inconveniences caused by any temporary labor shortages pale in comparison to the economic shock of the Biden administration’s reckless open-border policy. According to a December report from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), this policy cost taxpayers more than $150 billion in 2023 alone—approximately 2% of the entire U.S. budget.
For perspective, Newsweek reported that in 2023, the U.S. government spent $151 billion on income security programs for military veterans and their families. That figure is also roughly equivalent to the estimated cost of rebuilding Los Angeles after the wildfires.
Although no one knows the exact number of illegal immigrants who have entered the U.S. since Biden took office, it’s safe to say it’s at least 10 million. Unlike the wave of immigrants who arrived on our shores in the 1900s, ready to work hard, assimilate into American culture, and build a better life, many of these individuals are impoverished, relying on the U.S. to provide them with food, shelter, and medical care.
Voter concern over Biden’s open-border policy has grown steadily over the past four years, as U.S. citizens began experiencing the tangible effects of illegal immigration. These include rises in crime, overcrowding in cities, schools, and hospitals, and increased strain on state and local government budgets. Furthermore, many were frustrated by illegal immigrants seemingly leapfrogging over those trying to enter the country legally.
As a result, illegal immigration emerged as a top issue. In the run-up to the election, polls consistently showed that a majority of voters supported the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. Voters also made it clear which party they held responsible.
Since Trump’s victory in November, there have been scattered reports of migrants choosing to self-deport ahead of the anticipated crackdown. While it’s impossible to quantify this trend, self-deportation offers certain advantages. Those who are forcibly deported are typically barred from reentering the U.S. for 10 years, although the period may vary.
Anyway, it’s encouraging that Trump will start working on this campaign promise on Day One.
We’ll be watching closely.
Elizabeth writes commentary for The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation and a member of the Editorial Board at The Sixteenth Council, a London think tank. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
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