Television personality Dr. Phil McGraw embarks on a high-stakes mission with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Chicago, documenting their deportation operations.
According to Fox News, the famous psychologist accompanied border czar Tom Homan and ICE agents as they conducted targeted arrests of illegal immigrants with criminal records under President Donald Trump's intensified deportation initiative.
During the operation, Dr. Phil witnessed multiple arrests and interviewed several detainees, including a Thai national convicted of sex crimes involving children. The mission was part of his show on Merit TV, where he gained firsthand experience of ICE's enforcement procedures in a sanctuary city.
The operation highlighted the ongoing tension between federal immigration policies and Chicago's stance as a sanctuary city.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has maintained his commitment to protecting the city's migrant population, directing city departments to resist federal immigration enforcement efforts. This position directly contradicts the Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration control.
ICE's operation in Chicago resulted in over 460 arrests during the initial phase of the immigration sweep. The agency specifically targeted individuals with criminal records, including those involved in sexual assault, domestic violence, and weapons-related crimes.
Tom Homan emphasized the challenges posed by sanctuary city policies, as demonstrated by the Thai national's case. Homan stated:
We got an illegal alien, convicted of sex crimes involving children. He's walking the streets of Chicago. Again, the downfall, the problems with the sanctuary city—people like this walking the streets, rather than local law enforcement working with federal agents. This is what we're dealing with.
Dr. Phil underwent extensive security briefings before participating in what he described as a "high-risk mission." The operation targeted 270 specific individuals identified as high-value targets, primarily focusing on known criminals and terrorists.
During his visit to a Chicago-based ICE command center, Dr. Phil sought clarification about concerns regarding school raids. ICE officials assured him that no operations were being conducted in educational institutions.
Mayor Johnson expressed strong opposition to potential federal raids, particularly regarding schools. He stated:
I find it unconscionable that this administration would attempt to create not just division but fear within our public schools.
The collaboration between Dr. Phil and ICE provides unprecedented access to federal immigration enforcement operations in one of America's largest sanctuary cities. The operation exemplifies the ongoing conflict between Trump's deportation initiatives and local sanctuary policies.
ICE's targeted operation in Chicago, documented by Dr. Phil McGraw, demonstrates the agency's focus on apprehending criminal illegal immigrants.
As federal authorities continue their enforcement efforts, the tension between national immigration policies and Chicago's sanctuary status remains a significant point of contention in the broader immigration debate.
