Vernon Township Republicans chairman Jay Swidler said that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations on January 26 to remove dangerous undocumented migrants underscore former President Donald Trump's strong commitment to Illinois' safety and security. Swidler made this statement to the Lake County Gazette on January 29.
"With President Trump in charge, officials are finally taking a stand against the dangerous illegal migrants who have been causing harm to Chicago communities," said Swidler. "On January 26, ICE launched powerful operations to target and remove these individuals, with the full support of agencies like the FBI, DEA, and ATF. This concerted effort marks a critical step in prioritizing public safety and national security. Make no mistake–the Trump administration is willing to make bold moves to keep Illinois safe."
According to CNN, the Trump administration conducted a nationwide immigration crackdown on January 26, resulting in 956 arrests and 554 detainers, marking the largest one-day total ever reported by ICE. The operation involved several federal agencies, including ICE, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and U.S. Marshals. It targeted public safety and national security threats. White House border czar Tom Homan described the effort as a "gamechanger," emphasizing its focus on criminal aliens. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson noted that local police were not involved in these operations. CNN also reported that ICE field offices are facing quotas as enforcement efforts intensify to meet deportation goals, with operations taking place in Atlanta, Puerto Rico, Colorado, Los Angeles, and Austin.
The Chicago Sun Times covered comments from Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove regarding targeted immigration operations in Chicago on January 26. Bove said: "We will support everyone at the federal, state and local levels who joins this critical mission to take back our communities. We will use all available tools to address obstruction and other unlawful impediments to our efforts to protect the homeland. Most importantly, we will not rest until the work is done."
Swidler, a resident of Buffalo Grove, was first elected as Chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans in 2024. According to the organization’s website, he is focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing party membership, and communicating party positions on issues important to Vernon Township voters.
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