Donald Trump’s incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, is setting his sights on Chicago as the epicenter of the president-elect’s ambitious plan for mass deportations. During remarks at a GOP event on Monday night, Homan issued sharp criticism of local leadership, warning that any efforts to impede federal immigration enforcement would result in prosecution.
Speaking to Chicago Republicans at a holiday party hosted by the Law and Order PAC and the Northwest Side GOP Club, Homan declared:
“We’re going to start right here in Chicago. If your 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.”
The former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) didn’t hold back, blaming Illinois leadership for the state’s troubles:
“Your mayor sucks, and your governor sucks,” he added, referring to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
Homan is expected to lead what Trump has described as “the largest mass deportation operation in American history,” targeting not only undocumented immigrants accused of crimes but potentially millions of others living in the U.S. without legal documentation.
The operation will deploy federal, state, and local law enforcement into immigrant communities, beginning in Chicago before expanding nationwide.
Homan also made it clear that families with children would not be exempt, stating:
“I’m not looking to separate families at all. That’s not my goal. My goal is to enforce the law. But if you put yourself in that position, it may happen.”
Advocacy groups have already vowed to fight back, promising legal challenges to the deportation plans and increased support for immigrant families at risk of separation.
Chicago, a city with a significant immigrant population, has long resisted federal immigration enforcement efforts under sanctuary policies. Mayor Brandon Johnson and other city leaders have yet to respond to Homan’s latest remarks but are likely to face increasing pressure as Trump’s administration moves forward with its aggressive agenda.
With Trump’s “day one” plans looming, Chicago is poised to become a key battleground in the national debate over immigration enforcement. As federal and local governments clash, the city’s immigrant communities are bracing for the fallout.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
