TL;DR : President Trump has launched a major immigration enforcement campaign, including raids in Chicago, and claimed Democrats are letting criminals into the U.S. His statements have drawn strong criticism from local Democratic leaders, who call the actions political and harmful.
What Happened
- President Trump launched "Operation Midway Blitz", a federal immigration crackdown focused on cities like Chicago, with support from Border Patrol and National Guard troops.
- Over 800 undocumented immigrants have been arrested since the operation began; 37 people were arrested in recent raids in Chicago, some with criminal records.
- Trump posted on Truth Social:
Political and Local Response
- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the action, calling federal officers "jackbooted thugs" and urging them to leave Chicago.
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other Democratic leaders said the operation is militarizing cities and spreading fear, not improving safety.
- Critics say the actions are politically motivated and linked to Trump’s campaign rhetoric.
Background and Context
- Trump has used similar language since 2018, claiming Democrats support “open borders”.
- At the 2024 presidential debate, Trump said:
- He claimed Democrats had "opened the border" to “millions” of criminals, which Biden called "lies" and "malarkey."
"They've let in hundreds of thousands of people from prisons, from mental institutions, and from insane asylums... They're poisoning the blood of our country."
Fact Check and Data
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported ~27,082 migrants with criminal records arrested from October 2023 to May 2024.
- Studies (e.g., Cato Institute) show undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than U.S.-born citizens.
- President Biden’s June 2024 executive order restricted asylum claims, causing a 77% drop in illegal crossings by August 2024.
- Biden deported ~685,000 people in 2024, more than Trump during any single year of his first term.
