This is part of our series of daily recaps of ICE activity in the Chicago region. Have a tip we should check out? Email newsroom@blockclubchi.org.
CHICAGO — President Donald Trump backed the violent tactics federal immigration agents have used in Chicago in recent months, saying agents “haven’t gone far enough” during a “60 Minutes” interview this weekend.
The president appeared on CBS’ show Sunday night, answering questions about his administration’s immigration enforcement throughout the United States.
Interviewer Norah O’Donnell asked Trump about the enforcement activities, saying, “People been watching videos of ICE tackling a young mother, tear gas being used in a Chicago residential neighborhood, and the smashing of car windows. Have some of these raids gone too far?”
“No. I don’t think they have gone far enough,” Trump said.
When O’Donnell asked if Trump was “OK” with the tactics that have been used, the president said he is.
“Yeah, because you have to get the people out,” Trump said. “You know, you have to look at the people.”
Trump then repeated his administration’s often-repeated but unproven claim that many of the people being taken by agents are “murderers … criminals.”
Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly refused to provide information about the majority of people it has taken into custody — but Block Club reporters and others have shown that numerous detained people have had no or minimal criminal history.
At another point, Trump said that sanctuary cities — of which Chicago is one — “have to be changed.”
“One of the things I really have focused on is making Chicago great again,” Trump said during the interview. “And we’re just getting started in Chicago.”
Agents deploy tear gas and smoke grenades during a clash between federal agents and residents at 105th and Avenue N on Chicago’s East Side on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Matthew Kaplan/Block Club Chicago
In September, ICE and Border Patrol launched operations Midway Blitz and At Large, which are supposed to focus on arresting and removing undocumented immigrants with serious criminal histories.
But federal agents have shot at least two people, killing one; repeatedly tear-gassed protesters and first responders; shot rubber bullets at protesters; detained U.S. citizens, including children; handcuffed a Chicago alderperson in a hospital; smoke bombed and tear-gassed a Chicago street; fired a chemical weapon at a TV reporter and detained a journalist, among other incidents.
Local leaders and residents have repeatedly criticized the operations and sought ways to peacefully resist.
Trump has also hinted that he could invoke the Insurrection Act to get around a ruling barring the deployment. The act is supposed to be used by the federal government to aid in putting down rebellions, but Trump seemed to suggest he would use it to address crime in Chicago — where violent crime has been steadily falling.
Trump brought up the Insurrection Act again during his “60 Minutes” interview while making a reference to Chicago.
“Do you know that I could use that immediately and no judge can even challenge you on that?” Trump said. “But I haven’t chosen to do it because I haven’t felt we need it. Do you know that we have a place called Chicago that, with a very bad governor. … He won’t let us bring in the National Guard.”
At another point, Trump said, “But if I needed [the Insurrection Act], I could do it. And if I needed it, that would mean I could bring in the Army, the Marines, I could bring in whoever I want. But I haven’t chosen to use it.”
Click here for the full transcript of the interview.
Immigration Agents On Far North Side
Immigration agents detained at least four people Monday morning in Chicago, said Brandon Lee, communications director for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
Rapid response groups confirmed sightings of immigration agents in Uptown, Edgewater, Ravenswood, Albany Park and West Ridge, Lee said.
About 9:30 a.m., agents detained one person at 2030 W. Warner Ave., according to the Uptown/Edgewater rapid response team.
Neighbor Paul Lohmuller was inside his home when he saw ICE agents in the alley, surrounding a man, he said. He went outside to record and ask the man for more information, but by the time he approached, agents had already moved the man into a SUV, he said.
This is the second time federal agents have detained someone on Lohmuller’s block in the past two weeks, he said.
“I guess you never expect it to happen literally in front of you. I don’t know, North Center is such a sleepy little place,” Lohmuller said.
One person was detained by federal immigration officials Monday on the 2000 block of West Warner Avenue. Credit: Block Club Chicago/Francia Garcia Hernandez
After witnessing the detention, Lohmuller reported the sighting to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights hotline. He encourages others to do the same by calling 855-435-7693.
“This is definitely something where we need our neighbors to step up and help out,” he said.
At 10 a.m., immigration agents detained a landscaper at West Thome and North Glenwood avenues, according to the Uptown/Edgewater rapid response team.
By late morning, the scenes where these detentions happened were quiet.
Happening In Chicago
Chicago Should Pause Evictions As ICE Raids Continue, Housing Advocates Say: Some tenants are falling behind on rent as they stay home in the face of ICE operations. “As a last line of defense, being at home is the safest place to be, unquestionably,” a housing organizer said.
Filming ICE Detention Of Man With Schizophrenia Left Bystander ‘Trembling:’ Edgar Manzo’s quick decision to record immigration agents detaining the 54-year-old helped the man’s family learn that he was taken.
Faith Leaders Again Denied Entry To Broadview ICE Facility, Hold Mass Outside Anyway: Immigration authorities again denied faith leaders entry to the Broadview processing center Saturday and police used pepper balls to clear the street during an afternoon costume party and protest.
Brighton Park Neighbors Rally Around Family Of Tamale Vendor Arrested By Feds: Over 100 neighbors gathered Saturday in Kelly Park in support of tamalero Fausto Valladares Alvarez, who was taken by federal agents two weeks ago and is being held in Michigan. “My dad is not a criminal,” his daughter said.
FROM TRIBUNE: Deposition Of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino Nearly Ground To Halt Last Week, Records Show. The deposition of Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino nearly ground to a halt last week as government lawyers repeatedly objected to questions by plaintiffs’ attorneys, including some about communications between Bovino and White House advisor Stephen Miller, court records obtained by the Tribune show. + MORE FROM SUN-TIMES: Lawyers Complain To Judge Of Obstruction, ‘Sandbagging’ During Deposition
FROM SUN-TIMES: Plainclothes Agents Make Arrest In Southwest Side Barbershop: One of the agents had posed as a customer who had no badges or identifiers that would suggest he was law enforcement, the owner said.
FROM SUN-TIMES: Pellets And Peppers, Grenades And Gas: A Look At The Weapons ICE Uses In Broadview And Chicago: Tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper balls have played a key role in agents’ attempts to quell protests — but what are they, and what can they do?
FROM TRIBUNE: Operation Midway Blitz Linked To Dip In 911 Calls, Especially In Little Village. The rate of 911 calls made in Chicago has dropped precipitously in the two months since the start of Operation Midway Blitz, a Tribune review of city data found.
Know Your Rights
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