U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and other federal agents conducted arrests in Chicago on Sunday (January 26).
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Trump, a Republican, took steps to launch a wide-ranging immigration crackdown after taking office on Jan. 20, sending U.S. troops to the border and empowering immigration agents to pick up more non-criminals. The Trump administration last week deputized law enforcement agents with several Justice Department agencies to conduct immigration enforcement to supplement ICE efforts.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Marshals Service were granted the authority, the Trump administration said last week.
A Justice Department official said that the first arrest in Chicago involved an immigrant living illegally in the U.S. who had "killed a 19-year-old woman while driving under the influence."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is part of DHS, said it partnered with the DOJ for "enhanced targeted operations" in Chicago on Sunday aimed at preserving public safety but did not provide further details.
The office of Chicago's Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
ICE made 538 arrests nationwide on Thursday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, signaling an uptick from averages over previous years.
The agency's daily average for arrests was 311 in fiscal year 2024 and 467 in fiscal year 2023.
(Production: Deborah Lutterbeck)