Amid increased deportation efforts in Chicago area, Trump takes aim at Pritzker, Johnson

CHICAGO (WGN) — President Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to intensify their deportation efforts in Chicago and other Democratic-led sanctuary cities, amid opposition from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

“Most of those people are in the cities, all blue cities, all Democrat-run cities, and they think they’re going to use them to vote,” said Trump, who, without any supporting evidence, accused Democrats of electoral wrongdoing, as he lashes out at top Illinois leadership.

“I look at Chicago. You’ve got a really bad governor in Chicago and a bad mayor. But the governor is probably the worst in the country.”

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On Monday, Pritzker and other Democrats responded to Trump’s comments.   

“I think you can see that this has not gone well for him politically, and he’s all about the politics,” Illinois’ governor said.

Congressman Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia added: “All these announcements from the White House, the military parade that looks like a big flop that took place on Flag Day, are all efforts to distract us from what’s really important.”

President Trump’s jab did not garner a response from Chicago’s mayor, who, along with other cities such as Boston, Denver, and San Francisco, joined a federal lawsuit that accuses Homeland Security of freezing counter terrorism funds earmarked for cities.

Reported ICE arrest in Elgin

News of President Trump’s directive comes amid evidence of stepped-up enforcement in the Chicago area. Video provided to WGN by the community organization, Elgin Area Rapid Response, documents what they say was the arrest of an Elgin man at around 7:30 a.m. Monday near Gertrude Street and Washburn.

Witnesses reported eight agents on the scene, including members of the FBI. Department of Justice media contacts confirmed to WGN-TV that their agents participated in the Elgin operation, they say, in support of a Department of Homeland Security targeted enforcement.