The Trump administration is wasting no time in fulfilling its campaign promise to restore law and order, as top officials have descended on Chicago to oversee deportation efforts and crack down on illegal immigration. Breitbart News has confirmed that Border Czar Tom Homan and Acting Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Emil Bove are personally on the ground in the Windy City, leading the charge in what they are calling a “national emergency” stemming from years of failed immigration policy.
Their visit comes as a show of support for the brave agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and other federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and federal prosecutors, who are working together to execute President Trump’s deportation policies. In a high-stakes operation like this, the presence of senior officials signals the administration’s seriousness in addressing illegal immigration and criminal activity tied to it.
The Chicago office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) posted photos of Homan and Bove on X (formerly Twitter), showing the two officials in the field alongside agents. Their hands-on involvement underscores the administration’s determination to act decisively and deliver results.
In a statement to Breitbart News, Acting DAG Emil Bove praised the coordinated efforts of federal agents tackling what he described as a “national emergency.” “This morning, I had the privilege of observing brave men and women of the Department deploying in lockstep with DHS to address a national emergency arising from four years of failed immigration policy,” Bove stated.
The DEA, along with our @TheJusticeDept partners, is assisting @DHSgov and other federal law enforcement partners with their immigration enforcement efforts. pic.twitter.com/go7vxf8xtc
— DEAChicago (@DEACHICAGODiv) January 26, 2025
He continued, “In Chicago, and across the country, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, and federal prosecutors are working with DHS to secure the border, stop this invasion, and make America safe again. We will support everyone at the federal, state, and local levels who joins this critical mission to take back our communities. We will use all available tools to address obstruction and other unlawful impediments to our efforts to protect the homeland. Most importantly, we will not rest until the work is done.”
Chicago, a city often at the center of political battles over immigration policy, is one of the first areas where the Trump administration has moved to deliver on its pledge to deport hardened criminals residing in the U.S. illegally. For years, the city’s left-leaning leadership has openly defied federal immigration enforcement, declaring Chicago a “sanctuary city” and implementing policies to obstruct ICE operations. However, the administration has made it clear that no amount of resistance will deter its efforts to protect American communities.
In fact, the boldness of this operation has stirred frustration among Democrat leaders, including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago’s progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson. Both have voiced their disapproval of the administration’s actions, with Johnson vowing to maintain Chicago’s sanctuary city policies. But despite opposition from state and local officials, many Chicago residents are expressing support for Trump’s plans. Some have even jokingly suggested that Homan and Bove should go as far as to arrest Mayor Johnson for obstructing federal law enforcement.
The operation in Chicago comes on the heels of an aggressive start to Trump’s second term. Within days of his inauguration, DHS, ICE, and other agencies began sweeping operations targeting illegal migrants with criminal records. According to reports, many of those apprehended in the early days of these efforts have extensive rap sheets, including violent offenses such as assault, robbery, and gang activity.
Breitbart’s senior legal contributor Ken Klukowski commended Emil Bove’s leadership in Chicago, describing it as “America First boldness” that embodies Trump’s commitment to restoring the rule of law. “Bove’s hands-on leadership here is exactly the sort of America First boldness that President Trump promised, and is vital to restoring the rule of law,” Klukowski said.
The administration’s swift action in Chicago sends a strong message to cities across the country that defying federal immigration laws will no longer be tolerated. The coordinated efforts of DHS, ICE, and other federal agencies represent a turning point in America’s approach to illegal immigration—one that prioritizes the safety of American citizens and the integrity of the nation’s laws.
