Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove visited Chicago over the weekend to ensure city officials did not obstruct Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as they carried out deportation operations. CBS News reported Tuesday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is taking a hardline stance against sanctuary cities and potential interference with federal immigration enforcement.
Bove issued a strong statement supporting law enforcement efforts, stating, “In Chicago, and across the country, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, and federal prosecutors are working with DHS to secure the border, stop this invasion, and make America safe again.” He also vowed to investigate any obstruction by city or state officials and pledged to use all available legal tools to counter sanctuary policies.
Last week, President Donald Trump began implementing a nationwide deportation initiative targeting criminal illegal migrants. According to the New York Post, Bove previously ordered federal prosecutors to investigate sanctuary city officials suspected of obstructing federal operations. He also formed the Sanctuary Cities Working Group, a new entity designed to collect evidence of possible legal violations by cities shielding illegal immigrants. The working group is also reviewing federal funding for these jurisdictions.
Several Democrat-led cities, including Newark, Chicago, Baltimore, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami, have publicly opposed the administration’s efforts. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is among four mayors asked to testify about local sanctuary policies restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Johnson reaffirmed Chicago’s commitment to protecting illegal immigrants, stating, “Regardless of who is in the White House, Chicago is a city that opens its arms to people from around the globe.”
Chicago’s “Welcoming City Ordinance,” passed in 2012, guarantees illegal immigrants access to city services and prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration agencies. It also prohibits police from making arrests based solely on immigration status.
Meanwhile, former ICE Director Tom Homan, now a border czar, told CNN that illegal migrants have become highly knowledgeable about avoiding deportation. He noted that many have been coached by aid organizations on how to evade ICE enforcement and exploit legal loopholes.
The Biden administration had previously limited ICE’s enforcement authority, leading to a record surge in illegal crossings. The Trump administration’s renewed focus on mass deportations marks a significant shift in federal immigration policy.
