Federal Crackdown On Chicago: ICE, National Guard Plans Spark Political Standoff

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said ICE operations in Chicago and other cities will be bolstered and that President Trump could deploy the National Guard, prompting sharp pushback from Illinois leaders and the Chicago mayor who refuse to assist federal forces. The move is the latest in an accelerating, multi-city federal enforcement surge modeled on recent Los Angeles deployments and raises legal, civil liberties and political concerns ahead of the 2026 election cycle.