According to a document reviewed by NBC News and a person familiar with the planning, officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement are planning a significant enforcement operation that will specifically target immigrants for several days after the inauguration of Donald Trump as president.
The document states that the operation was scheduled to commence on Tuesday and conclude the following Monday, although the dates are subject to change.
According to two sources familiar with the plans, the scheduled operation has been delayed because of media leaks.
The sources made it clear on Sunday that the operation has not been canceled, and the individuals who were supposed to be arrested in the operation are still being targeted by ICE. However, it was stated that Chicago will not be the initial city where mass deportations will commence.
ICE officials directed NBC News to the Trump transition team for comment, but the team did not respond.
During a recent interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker, President Trump chose not to provide specific details about the operation, but he did mention that mass deportations would commence swiftly and without delay.
“We’re all set and ready to go,” he declared. “Our main objective is to apprehend the individuals who have entered our country illegally.”
A briefing is scheduled for Friday afternoon in Chicago for agents who plan to participate in the operation, known as “Operation Safeguard,” according to the document. The document also mentions that the operation will involve agents who were requested to volunteer and that there are more agents who have volunteered than needed.
According to an article by The Wall Street Journal, it has been reported that the operation is anticipated to take place in Chicago.
Operations in other cities are also being considered. According to sources familiar with the planning, major metropolitan areas such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago could potentially be subject to early enforcement actions.
During his campaign, Trump made a commitment to carry out the most extensive deportation operation ever seen in American history. According to a federal estimate in 2022, it was believed that there were up to 11 million undocumented migrants residing in the United States. However, the current exact number remains unknown.
According to the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration group, the cost of deporting all undocumented immigrants could reach a staggering $315 billion. Furthermore, experts caution that such mass deportations could lead to an increase in the prices of certain goods within the United States. In fact, the federal government estimates that as much as 40% of agricultural workers are undocumented immigrants.
ICE is currently facing a significant budget shortfall of $230 million, which hampers its ability to implement President Trump’s plans on a large and sustained scale. In order to move forward with enforcement operations and maintain detention facilities, Congress must allocate additional funds.
After being arrested, migrants are held in detention until they are deported. As per the information provided on ICE’s website, there is currently a lack of available beds in their detention facilities in Chicago.
Tom Homan, who will be taking over as the border czar under the Trump administration, has expressed his desire to have a minimum of 100,000 detention beds throughout the United States. Currently, the country has around 34,000 beds available. It is worth noting that the highest number of individuals deported in a single year during Trump’s first term was 267,000 in fiscal 2019.
During the first term of the Trump administration, fewer individuals were deported annually compared to the Biden administration’s deportation numbers. In fact, the highest recorded number of deportations in a single year occurred during the Obama administration in fiscal year 2013, with 438,000 individuals being deported from the United States.
Trump’s potential intentions to focus on Democratic-run cities are expected to face resistance from political opponents. In response to rumors that the new administration might initiate deportation operations in Chicago, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated on Friday that he will ensure the protection of migrants if they are unlawfully detained.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker expressed his commitment to upholding the laws that protect undocumented individuals. He emphasized the importance of following the law and expressed concern about the Trump administration and its officials potentially disregarding these laws.
According to Homan, the new administration is prepared to tackle the political battle and financial burdens associated with mass deportations. He emphasized that the outcomes of such deportations are of utmost importance to the country, prioritizing national security over any monetary cost.