As ICE arrests increase in Chicago, critics including civil rights groups such as the ACLU of Illinois have raised concerns that recent enforcement tactics could infringe on due process rights and create public anxiety among immigrant families.
Story Snapshot
- ICE raids in Chicago draw public criticism from Milwaukee Bucks Coach Doc Rivers, igniting debate on immigration enforcement.
- President Trump’s 2025 policies escalate nationwide deportations, expand detention, and involve military and police in immigration sweeps.
- The new “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” dramatically boosts federal funding for immigrant detention, including family detention and indefinite holds.
- Legal challenges and public outcry mount as executive orders test constitutional limits and due process protections.
Trump Administration’s Nationwide Immigration Crackdown Faces Public Pushback
In October 2025, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers publicly condemned ICE arrests in Chicago, just as his team prepared to face the Chicago Bulls. Under President Trump, federal agencies have received expanded powers to carry out expedited removals and conduct raids far beyond the border, including in sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals. According to a February 2025 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directive reviewed by The New York Times, federal agencies were granted expanded powers to carry out expedited removals and enforcement operations in areas previously considered sensitive, including hospitals and schools. Analysts such as Dr. Theresa Brown of the Bipartisan Policy Center note that while these policies demonstrate the administration’s focus on strict immigration control, they have also triggered extensive public debate about their impact on civil liberties and family unity.
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President Trump’s second term has seen an aggressive overhaul of federal immigration law, epitomized by the July 2025 signing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” This law immediately allocated $45 billion to the Department of Homeland Security for expanded detention of immigrant adults and families, quadrupling ICE’s annual budget. The funding permits extended detention of families, a practice that the American Academy of Pediatrics and other child welfare experts have said can cause lasting psychological and emotional harm. The law also limits access to federal programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit for certain immigrant categories, according to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) analysis published in August 2025. By authorizing family detention and revising earlier judicial limits, the measures have drawn criticism from organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Military and Police Involvement Raises Constitutional Concerns
The Trump administration’s policies now deputize state and local police, as well as National Guard units, to enforce federal immigration laws. Reports by Reuters and The Associated Press indicate that in some states, National Guard units have been deployed to assist federal immigration enforcement despite objections from local officials, and legal analysts have raised questions about liability protections granted to participating officers. Constitutional law scholars such as Professor Laurence Tribe of Harvard Law School have argued that expanding state participation in federal immigration enforcement raises complex constitutional and due process concerns. Mass workplace raids and public sweeps have become more frequent, affecting families and communities across the country. While some Americans support tough enforcement, others see these tactics as undermining the values of individual liberty and limited government.
Legal challenges to these executive actions are underway. The New York City Bar Association’s latest report details mounting litigation over the administration’s use of executive orders and policy memoranda to reshape immigration law. Key issues include the legality of expedited removals, family detention, and the involvement of non-federal actors in enforcement. Practitioners and civil rights advocates argue that these measures test the limits of executive power and threaten due process rights. In the face of public protest and legal scrutiny, the administration maintains that its actions are needed to secure the border and uphold the rule of law. Critics, including the Migration Policy Institute’s senior fellow Muzaffar Chishti, contend that these policies could strain local institutions and weaken long-standing procedural safeguards.
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Pressure on State and Local Governments to Cooperate
Trump’s 2025 immigration agenda also pressures states and localities to fully cooperate with federal authorities. Non-compliant jurisdictions face penalties, including the loss of federal funding and the opening of voter registration and motor vehicle databases to enforcement agencies. Project 2025 proposes deeper coordination between local and federal authorities, positioning state and local police as key participants in a unified national deportation system, according to policy drafts reviewed by Politico. This approach has sparked tension between federal and local governments, with some officials resisting federal pressure. As the administration tightens work verification and reduces avenues for relief, immigrant communities face growing uncertainty. The resulting climate has fueled activism, legal battles, and ongoing debate over the balance between national security and constitutional rights.
Sources:
The Anti-Immigrant Policies in Trump’s Final “Big Beautiful Bill …
Project 2025: What’s At Stake for Immigrants’ Rights
The Trump Administration’s 2025 Changes to Immigration Law …