On , Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on CBS’ Face the Nation that the Trump administration will expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in major U.S. cities, naming Chicago among the targets. She declined to detail tactics or whether National Guard troops would be used, as Chicago’s mayor moved to prepare legal action against any federal surge.
Key Takeaways
- Noem confirmed plans to expand ICE activity in major cities and said Chicago is included.
- She would not specify tactics or timelines, calling any Guard mobilization the president’s prerogative.
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order to ready legal options to block federal law enforcement or Guard surges.
- Johnson warned the city had “days, not weeks” before potential federal militarized activity.
- Earlier this month, federal officers, including ICE, were sent to assist police in Washington, D.C., alongside thousands of National Guard troops aimed at reducing crime.
- Trump later threatened similar deployments to other cities, including Baltimore.
- Noem suggested cities such as Boston and San Francisco could also see increased enforcement, saying “nothing’s off the table.”
- More than a dozen Democratic governors condemned deploying a state’s Guard without gubernatorial consent; Noem said assessments apply to all cities, not along party lines.
Verified Facts
Noem said ICE already runs operations in Chicago and across Illinois and that the department intends to “add more resources” to those efforts. She emphasized that she would not discuss operational specifics for other cities.
Pressed on whether National Guard troops might support immigration arrests or raids, Noem said any such decision rests with President Donald Trump and declined to elaborate.
On , Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order directing the city’s legal department to explore avenues to challenge a federal surge of officers or Guard troops in Illinois. He said officials had credible reports of a short timeline before potential federal action.
Earlier in August, the administration directed federal law enforcement, including ICE, to assist police in Washington, D.C., and deployed thousands of National Guard troops with the stated aim of curbing crime. Afterward, Trump said he could send federal officers and troops to additional cities, naming Baltimore among them.
Asked whether Boston might be included in the next wave, Noem said many cities are being considered and reiterated that “nothing” has been ruled out. She later added that Republican-led jurisdictions are also being evaluated and that decisions are not being made through a “political lens.”
Context & Impact
The announcement escalates long-standing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and big-city governments, many of which limit cooperation with ICE to focus local resources on community policing. A renewed ICE surge could increase at-large arrests and detention, while heightening concerns among immigrant communities about public safety and access to services.
City and state officials are also contesting the prospect of federalizing or deploying National Guard troops without gubernatorial consent. Democratic governors argue such moves would undermine state authority and the Guard’s mission, while the administration frames the deployments as a public-safety response.
For residents, the near-term effects could include more visible federal operations, potential strain on local legal-aid and social services, and further friction between city halls and federal agencies over data-sharing and access to municipal facilities.
Official Statements
“We do intend to add more resources” to ICE operations; specifics will not be discussed publicly.
Kristi Noem, Homeland Security secretary, on CBS Face the Nation
Chicago has “days, not weeks” before potential federal militarized activity.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, City of Chicago
Deploying a state’s National Guard without consent is an “alarming abuse of power” and ineffective.
Coalition of Democratic governors
“We don’t want troops on the streets of American cities.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, on CBS Face the Nation
Unconfirmed
- Exact timing, locations, and scope of the expanded ICE operations.
- Whether National Guard troops will deploy to Chicago or other cities as part of immigration enforcement.
- Arrest priorities, detention capacity increases, and duration of the surge.
Bottom Line
The administration is preparing to scale up ICE activity in multiple cities, with Chicago explicitly named, while withholding details. City and state leaders are bracing for legal and political battles over federal authority and any Guard involvement as both sides frame the effort around public safety.