Trump’s incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, has promised that major raids on illegal immigrants will begin on the first full day of his administration.
Sources told the BBC’s U.S. partner CBS that the raids, targeting people living in the U.S. without permission, could start as soon as Tuesday in Chicago, which has a large immigrant population.
Homan, who is leading the charge on immigration enforcement, has vowed to prioritize deporting criminals and gang members in these operations. The raids are expected to focus on “sanctuary” cities—areas where local authorities limit cooperation with federal immigration officials.
While Trump had previously promised mass deportations in 2017, the scale and targets of this new operation are set to be much larger. The raids are likely to expand to cities like New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami.
There are also talks that Trump might reverse a policy that keeps churches off-limits for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) arrests.
In Chicago’s Latino neighborhoods, people are worried. D Camacho, a 21-year-old legal immigrant from Mexico, said, “I’m scared, but I can’t imagine what people without papers are feeling.”
Reverend Emma Lozano expressed concern for families who could be torn apart if parents are taken and their children left behind.
Under President Biden’s administration, ICE focused on deporting serious criminals or those who posed national security threats. But the Trump administration may target all illegal migrants, even those who have lived and worked in the U.S. for years without criminal records.
Construction sites, where many undocumented migrants work, may see a return of raids, which were paused under Biden’s leadership.
Meanwhile, a proposed law called the Laken Riley Act, named after a student killed by an illegal migrant in Georgia, could require the detention of migrants suspected of criminal activity.
This move would add more pressure to the already limited space available for detainees.
The BBC reports these plans and the reactions of those affected, highlighting the anxiety among immigrant communities facing an uncertain future under the new administration.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrnn8zxdego