Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted raids in Chicago, arresting dozens of undocumented immigrants, some with criminal histories, others without. The operations, part of the Trump administration's intensified deportation efforts, aimed to showcase the administration's commitment to fulfilling President Trump's promise of mass deportations.
NBC News was embedded with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during their operations throughout the Chicago area on Monday morning. The agents, accompanied by the ATF, executed several door-knocking operations, ultimately arresting Christopher Fragoso Lara. Fragoso Lara, who had prior convictions for crimes including home invasion, aggravated battery, domestic battery, and weapon possession, was spotted at his workplace, a Chicago tire shop.
ICE agents shut down the street outside the business and apprehended Fragoso Lara as he spoke to a customer in sub-freezing temperatures. The arrest proceeded without incident. The operations aimed to demonstrate the administration's commitment to fulfilling President Trump's promise of mass deportations. The team of ICE agents started their day before sunrise in downtown Chicago, driving to Berwyn, a neighborhood on the city's outskirts. At each location they visited during their door-knocking operations, at least seven officers, including ICE and ATF agents, secured all entrances and exits. Ten separate teams, each consisting of about 10 federal agents, fanned out across the city. The Trump administration has intensified its deportation efforts in recent weeks, with apprehensions doubling compared to the previous month. Fragoso Lara, who grew up in the U.S., expressed his concern about leaving his 5-year-old daughter behind if deported. He stated that his intention is to ask for a second chance, emphasizing his growth and understanding of life since making poor decisions in the past. At the ICE processing facility on the outskirts of Chicago, where detainees are photographed, fingerprinted, and held before their deportation flights, 25 men and one woman were either being held or processed. Frank Padula, assistant field office director, acknowledged the facility being unusually busy due to the increased operations. While some operations, like Fragoso Lara's arrest, were successful, others resulted in ICE agents being unable to locate their targets. ICE officials confirmed that collateral arrests, the apprehension of individuals without criminal histories, were a possibility. Sam Olson, Enforcement and Removal Operations Chicago field office director, explained that although the primary focus was on enforcing immigration laws, anyone present illegally, regardless of criminal history, could face arrest. The administration has emphasized that the crackdown targets criminals, but concerns remain regarding the impact on law-abiding migrants.
ICE Raids Chicago Deportations Undocumented Immigrants Trump Administration Criminal Histories Collateral Arrests
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