Trump tells Pritzker that ICE is coming to Chicago

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker confirmed federal immigration agents will be coming to Chicago soon, citing a phone call his administration received from the federal government.

In an exclusive interview with NBC Chicago, Pritzker said after weeks of hearing no communication from the Trump administration. The phone call, made to Illinois State Police, came from Gregory Bovino, the border patrol sector chief for the El Centro, Texas sector. Bovino oversaw the immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles earlier this summer.

“[They said] they will begin operations here sometime in the coming week,” Pritzker said. A report from The New York Times said Homeland Security officials requested to use Naval Station Great Lakes near North Chicago for their operations, which would include space for 250 department personnel plus a “Tactical Operations Center” and an “Incident Command Post,” as well as bathrooms, laundry, parking for 140 vehicles and storage space for medical supplies and weapons like rubber bullets and tear gas.

Trump made comments about Chicago on his social media platform Truth Social twice Tuesday morning. First, he cited the high crime numbers in the city over Labor Day weekend, writing: “Chicago is the worst and most dangerous city in the World, by far. Pritzker needs help badly, he just doesn’t know it yet. I will solve the crime problem fast, just like I did in DC. Chicago will be safe again, and soon.”

Pritzker was hoping to travel to Japan for a trade mission at the end of the week, but with the threat of ICE agents and potentially the National Guard coming to Chicago, he said he may have to postpone the trip.

This comes amid a violent crime crisis in the city of Chicago. At least 58 people were shot, eight fatally, across Chicago over Labor Day weekend, including a drive-by attack that left seven victims wounded, according to police.

Whether or not the President’s intervention can stem the flow of violent crime in America’s cities, it is clear that the status quo is not working.