Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed Sunday that federal assets will be significantly increased in Chicago in the coming days.
The move follows President Donald Trump’s indication that he is prepared to deploy both National Guard personnel and federal agents to address rising crime and to expand deportation operations in the city.
Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, guest host Ed O’Keefe asked Noem about reports of a broad Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation expected to begin in Chicago as early as next week.
He also pressed her on whether the operations would resemble those in Los Angeles, where ICE enforcement has been reinforced by military personnel following anti-ICE demonstrations.
“Well, we’ve already had ongoing operations with ICE in Chicago and throughout Illinois and other states, making sure that we’re upholding our laws. But we do intend to add more resources to those operations,” Noem said.
She added that the department would not disclose operational specifics, citing security concerns for officers on the ground.
“We will continue to go after the worst of the worst across the country, like President Trump has told us to do, focusing on those that are perpetuating murder and rape trafficking of drugs and humans across our country, knowing that every single citizen deserves to be safe.”
President Trump has repeatedly pointed to the results in Washington, D.C., where he took control of the city’s police force under the Home Rule Act and deployed federal agents and National Guard personnel.
According to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has been a strong critic of Trump, crime rates have dropped significantly since the federal takeover began.
Bowser reported that carjackings have declined by 87 percent compared to record highs since 2018.
She also noted that overall crime in the district has dropped 15 percent in the 20-day period since August 7, compared to the same time last year, with violent crime down 45 percent over that span.
Trump has suggested that Chicago will be the next major city to see a federal surge, telling reporters last week, “After we do this we’ll go to another location, and we’ll make it safe, also. We’re going to make our country very safe. We’re going to make our cities very, very safe. Chicago’s a mess.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Saturday that he would issue an executive order aimed at preventing federal authorities from operating alongside city police.
The order states that Chicago police will not “collaborate with federal agents on joint law enforcement patrols, arrest operations, or other law enforcement duties including civil immigration enforcement.”
In addition, Johnson’s directive instructs city departments to “pursue all available legal and legislative avenues to resist coordinated efforts from the federal government.”
The mayor told President Trump to “stand down” and refrain from sending federal assets to the city.
Despite Johnson’s opposition, past legal challenges have shown limited success.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta previously sued the federal government in an attempt to block Trump’s authority to federalize the state’s National Guard during unrest in Los Angeles.
That lawsuit failed after a federal appeals court ruled that the president has the authority to deploy National Guard personnel when necessary to address public disorder.
The pending deployment of additional federal resources to Chicago is expected to intensify the conflict between the Trump administration and city leaders over immigration enforcement and public safety.
Details of the upcoming operations are expected to remain undisclosed until they are underway.
