Gregory Bovino, a senior U.S. Border Patrol official, confirmed his team made multiple arrests in Chicago on Tuesday, targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records. His arrival marks an escalation of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Illinois, drawing sharp criticism from local leaders who argue the tactics are aggressive and politically motivated.
Bovino, known for leading deportation operations in Los Angeles, posted a video on X showcasing Chicago and pledged to continue arresting what he called “criminal illegal aliens.” He boasted online, “We are already going hard this morning!!! Many arrests.”
The Department of Homeland Security recently announced operations in Chicago and across Illinois, citing state and city sanctuary laws that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Officials said the mission focuses on immigrants with prior convictions. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem added that arrests included offenders charged with assault, DUI, and felony stalking.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker denounced the effort, accusing the Trump administration of sowing chaos. He said Bovino has a reputation for violent tactics, often detaining people based on appearance or language. “They are grabbing people who have brown skin or who speak with an accent,” Pritzker said, calling the raids discriminatory and unnecessary.
Bovino’s previous campaigns faced legal challenges for racial profiling. A federal judge blocked aggressive patrols in Los Angeles last year, though the Supreme Court recently lifted that injunction, allowing the practices to resume.
Illinois Democrats, including Representative Bill Foster, condemned the crackdown, warning it would instill fear and tear families apart rather than improve public safety. Bovino, once chief patrol agent in California’s El Centro Sector, is also known for producing high-profile social media content to promote immigration enforcement efforts.