Noem Signals DHS Open to Expanding Immigration Enforcement to More U.S. Cities, August 2025

(UNITED STATES) Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Sunday that “we haven’t taken anything off the table” when asked if the administration will expand immigration enforcement to more U.S. cities, marking the clearest sign yet that expanded operations are under active review. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation on August 31, 2025, she said the Department of Homeland Security is assessing where to send more personnel and equipment, adding that “there’s a lot of cities that are dealing with crime and violence right now” and DHS is making sure it has “the resources and the equipment to go in.”

The remarks point to a broader push under President Trump to escalate federal actions in jurisdictions with policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the new phase reflects a federal strategy that pairs immigration enforcement with public‑safety operations in cities viewed as uncooperative, with Chicago at the center of near‑term planning.

Escalation plans and Chicago focus

DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been preparing to ramp up operations in Chicago, using methods similar to those deployed earlier this year in Los Angeles.

Planned measures under review include:

• A surge of federal agents and support teams.
• Mobile processing capacity and added logistical support.
• Assistance from nearby federal and military installations (for example, Naval Station Great Lakes) for staging and transport.

Noem declined to share operational timelines, citing security concerns, but said the department intends to “add more resources” to current Chicago activities.

Earlier this year the administration:

• Federalized the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C.
• Deployed National Guard units to D.C. and Los Angeles to support combined immigration and crime enforcement efforts.

Those moves created a template the White House could apply elsewhere. Any Guard deployment in Chicago would require a direct decision by President Trump. Noem emphasized the Guard remains a tool the administration may use, while stressing the immediate focus is on adding federal personnel and equipment.

Local resistance and legal stakes

Illinois officials have pushed back strongly. Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson argue crime is trending down in key categories and have threatened legal action if federal mobilization intensifies. They say federal moves inflame tensions and target law‑abiding immigrants, noting local policies are intended to build trust between communities and police.

Key points of contention:

• City rules bar the Chicago Police Department from assisting with civil immigration enforcement, complicating federal efforts that rely on local detention or transfer support.
• Legal challenges are expected if federal expansion proceeds in Chicago, with officials arguing city laws reflect local public‑safety needs and that civil immigration enforcement should remain separate from local policing.

ICE detainers and enforcement tactics

A central flashpoint is ICE detainers—requests asking local jails to hold people for pickup by federal officers.

• In Illinois, ICE issued more than 1,600 detainers in recent months.
• Only about 8% were honored because of state and local limits on cooperation.

That low compliance has led ICE to attempt more at‑large arrests (homes, workplaces, courts), increasing tension and public concern. Administration officials say lack of local cooperation lets dangerous people remain on the streets. State and city leaders counter that detainers are voluntary, can sweep in people who pose no public‑safety risk, and raise due‑process concerns.

Reports from advocacy groups and congressional letters have criticized ICE tactics such as:

• Plainclothes agents using unmarked vehicles.
• Surprise home arrests.
• Courthouse detentions.

Critics say these methods blur the line between civil immigration enforcement and broader policing. Administration supporters argue aggressive operations are necessary to catch high‑risk offenders and prevent reoffending, especially when local jails do not transfer people to federal custody.

The scope of targets is another contested issue. Community groups say enforcement actions have at times included:

• People with old or minor offenses.
• People without criminal records.

Officials inside DHS emphasize prioritizing the “worst of the worst,” while Illinois leaders warn that sweep‑style actions undermine public trust and deter victims and witnesses from reporting crimes.

What expanded operations mean for communities

If DHS moves ahead with expanded operations, affected cities could see:

• A surge of ICE officers and support teams conducting at‑large arrests.
• Requests to use federal facilities or nearby military bases for staging and transport.
• Increased detainer requests to local jails despite low compliance in sanctuary jurisdictions.
• Possible federal deployment of National Guard units if ordered by President Trump.
• Reassignments of federal personnel from other duties to immigration enforcement, which critics say may stretch public‑safety resources.

For immigrants—both undocumented and lawfully present—the practical effects can be immediate:

• Arrests at homes or in public spaces if someone is identified as a target.
• Families with mixed status may fear detention of a parent or spouse, even with no recent criminal history.
• Public defenders and legal‑aid groups often report spikes in calls during surge periods as people seek to verify orders, pending cases, or relief options.

Local governments will likely prepare for legal fights over:

• The limits of federal authority.
• Use of federalized policing.
• Boundaries of state and city laws restricting cooperation.

Past lawsuits challenged both the process for deploying the National Guard and the scope of federal command over municipal police; Illinois officials have signaled similar claims if expansion occurs in Chicago.

For law enforcement, expanded federal actions can shift priorities:

• Federal agencies may reassign officers from other missions to staff immigration teams.
• Local departments must manage community relations when arrests occur without local involvement.
• Some police chiefs warn broad operations can hinder investigations if immigrant witnesses stay silent.

Federal officials counter that removing people with serious offenses prevents future harm and that at‑large arrests become necessary when detainers go unfulfilled.

Legal, practical, and safety advice for communities

Policy context: Chicago and Illinois have long‑standing “sanctuary” measures limiting cooperation with civil immigration enforcement. These laws do not block federal action but reduce local assistance, such as holding people past release dates for ICE pickup. The 2025 federal approach intensified a long‑running clash between federal priorities and local rules.

Practical recommendations for people at risk:

• Carry proof of lawful status if you have it; keep key documents in a safe place.
• Plan for child care should a parent be detained.
• Learn the difference between criminal warrants and civil requests.
• Ask officers to identify themselves and their agency.
• Remember basic legal protections: the right to remain silent and the right to speak with an attorney.

Community groups and lawyers often advise these steps to reduce fear and confusion during tense periods.

For reliable information and official guidance:

• Watch DHS announcements and local government alerts.
• Visit the Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov
• Check city and state pages for know‑your‑rights materials and hotlines during enforcement surges.

“We haven’t taken anything off the table,” Noem said — signaling DHS is keeping options open for more agents, equipment, and actions chosen by federal criteria rather than local priorities.

Outlook: politics, capacity, and legal contests

The political backdrop will shape what comes next. The White House frames the push as a law‑and‑order mission focused on cities with crime challenges and low detainer compliance. Illinois officials dispute the data and say city strategies are working.

Key factors determining expansion beyond Chicago:

1. Policy decisions in Washington.
2. Logistics — how many officers can be shifted and which facilities can handle intake.
3. Responses from courts and communities (including likely legal challenges).

The 2025 record shows a steady ratcheting up: federalized policing in Washington, Guard deployments in D.C. and Los Angeles, and now a likely surge in Chicago backed by added logistics. Whether DHS widens its footprint will depend on these political, legal, and operational calculations.

For now, DHS is signaling continuity: more agents, more equipment, and a focus on federally chosen targets. Communities and officials should remain alert as federal plans evolve and potential expansion of expanded operations keeps major cities on notice across the 🇺🇸.