The Government of Donald Trump began carrying out raids and detaining Latino migrants to deport them to their countries of origin, three days after signing decrees related to this measure. The White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, stated that they are fulfilling "promises".
Tom Homan, known as the 'border czar', announced a "shock and awe" with what would be the largest deportation seen in the United States. The first cities where these actions would take place are San Diego and Chicago, the latter described as a ghost town due to the situation.
San Diego has become a significant illegal crossing point on the border with Mexico, thus being prioritized. The Trump administration seeks to send a clear message that entering the country illegally will have severe consequences.
In total, it was reported that 538 migrants have been detained so far. Trump, in an interview, did not disclose the cities where the raids would take place as the situation is constantly evolving, according to his words.
Social media has shared photos of Latino migrants being loaded onto airplanes, handcuffed and shackled, depicting a desolate scene. Chicago, a sanctuary city since 1985, has been a priority point along with San Diego for these actions. Both cities have promised to challenge these measures by protecting undocumented immigrants.
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has taken steps to become a "super sanctuary", while the mayor of Chicago has reiterated the prohibition of cooperating with federal immigration officials in his city. The anti-immigration raids planned by Trump’s team in Chicago have been underway since January 21 and are expected to continue.
President Trump had previously announced that mass deportations would take place soon, and images shared on social media show an operation in progress, including individuals with diverse criminal profiles. The deportation operation has been described as the largest in history.
