12-02-2025
Trump Team frustrated by ICE arrest numbers, agency not revealing specifics about who is being detained
CHICAGO (WGN) — There are several signs President Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts in Chicago are not as significant as promised—which doesn't mean immigrants aren't on edge.
Days after the inauguration, and with Dr. Phil and his camera crew in tow, the Trump Team announced mass deportation efforts were underway. But three weeks in, they now acknowledge the numbers aren't where they want them to be.
While ICE's last update said they've arrested 9,000 people across the country, they've refused repeated requests to reveal how many of those arrests took place in Chicago.
They're also not providing a breakdown of how many of those arrested have a violent criminal history.
Trump's border czar Tom Homan has repeated his frustration with states like Illinois which have laws banning local police and jailers from cooperating with deportation efforts.
More: 'Illinois follows the law': Pritzker responds after Trump administration sues Illinois, Chicago over sanctuary status
'If you look at it, arrests and interior enforcement are three times higher than what they were one year ago today. Three times higher is good; but I'm not satisfied,' Homan said. 'Any sanctuary city that purposefully releases public safety threats back in the public is stupid. I mean, let us arrest a bad guy in the jail.'
While ICE highlights a handful of arrests of violent criminals under the banner 'the worst first' – the agency isn't releasing much in the way of details.
Syracuse University's Trac Immigration project says on January 26 – the most recent date available – 14,882 people were in custody as a result of ICE arrests a 36 percent increase over one year ago.
In Elgin, two weeks ago, agents looking for a fugitive with a violent past didn't find him but did arrest a 44-year-old father of four who relatives say had been in this country for two decades working as a roofer.
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'I've already seen the stories about non-criminals being arrested at a higher rate – and they're going to keep being arrested at a higher rate – because we can't get the bad guy in jail so we go into the community,' Homan said. 'And when we find the bad guy in the community, they're probably with others who aren't a criminal priority but they're going to get arrested too.'
Immigrant advocates say they think awareness campaigns – instructing immigrants about their rights – have made enforcement more difficult.
Tovia Siegel is with The Resurrection Project.
'We did see increased enforcement but not nearly at the rate and numbers that the federal government was claiming and threatening,' Siegel said. 'They're not opening the door when agents come without a warrant. They're remaining silent. They're exercising their constitutional rights and in doing so protecting themselves and their families.'
Trump signed an executive order ending asylum, he's also working to strip away protected status for those who are already here. Lawsuits have been filed.
Regardless of their outcome there's another ground truth, southern border crossings have dropped 74 percent since trump took office.
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