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ICE Employs Text Traps in Chicago After Record 2,200 Nationwide Arrests

Chicago officials are demanding a probe after federal agents lured Alternative to Detention program participants to office check-ins with mass texts before detaining them.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detain a person, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md.
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Overview

  • On June 3, ICE conducted its largest single-day operation under President Trump, arresting over 2,200 immigrants nationwide as part of a push to reach 3,000 daily detentions.
  • Immigration lawyers report that ICE sent mass text messages to ATD participants asking them to come in for unscheduled check-ins and then arrested many upon arrival.
  • In Chicago’s South Loop on June 4, roughly a dozen immigrants with valid work permits and pending cases were taken into custody after responding to routine appointment texts.
  • Mayor Brandon Johnson and several aldermen condemned the tactic as entrapment, demanded a full investigation and noted that Chicago police did not assist ICE enforcement under city ordinances.
  • Advocates warn that deceptive enforcement methods undermine due process and could deter immigrants from attending required check-ins and court hearings.