Chicago: ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) teams are prioritizing arrests of the most dangerous criminals. The strategy comes as the Trump administration empowers officers with more discretion during enforcement actions, according to the Chicago ICE Field Director, Sam Olson.
Olson explained that the goal is to target criminals involved in serious offenses like sexual assault, murder, and drug possession. “We’re going after the worst first,” he told Fox News on Tuesday. His teams, backed by support from multiple law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and US Marshals, focus on individuals with serious criminal histories.
“We are not going into schools or churches,” Olson stressed. “We’re targeting those who pose the most risk.” The field director emphasized that the increased discretion under this administration allows ICE officers to exercise judgment on the ground, giving them more flexibility than before.
According to Olson, the support for local enforcement activities is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to take a “whole-of-government” approach to the problem. This includes coordination between local law enforcement and federal agencies to handle those who pose the most danger to their communities.
Challenges Posed by Local Authorities and Jail Releases
Despite the heightened targeting of criminal suspects, Olson pointed out that many of the people being arrested had previously been released by local or state authorities. ICE had placed “holds” on these individuals, but they were set free again into local communities. He explained the difficulty of this situation in Chicago, where repeat offenders end up in the system again and again due to the actions of local jurisdictions.
ICE officers spend considerable time investigating suspects before making arrests. Research on their whereabouts is critical, Olson noted, because they aim for a high success rate in arrests. Each target typically requires a team of at least 10 agents, which ensures thorough preparation for each operation.
Olson’s comments paint a picture of what he described as the ongoing challenge to maintain safety in urban areas like Chicago. As local law enforcement releases individuals with serious charges back into society, federal authorities aim to recapture those who have committed further offenses.
Through comprehensive planning and teamwork, Olson said, they seek to ensure the security of communities while also enforcing immigration laws effectively. While acknowledging the delicate balance required, the field director remained confident in his team’s mission to focus on the most dangerous individuals first.
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