Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin torched the Trump administration for allowing television personality Dr. Phil McGraw to tag along as border czar Tom Homan and a team of agents carried out deportation operations in Chicago last weekend.
From the Senate floor on Tuesday, Durbin scrutinized President Donald Trump's campaign messaging that mass deportations would initially target illegal immigrants who pose national security risks – sex offenders, murderers and drug dealers, to name a few.
"If this mass deportation is truly focused on dangerous individuals — murderers, rapists, drug dealers and [the] mentally ill — Dr. Phil has as much business being on these raids as he does performing surgery," Durbin said, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.
DR. PHIL JOINS ICE TEAM AND BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN FOR CHICAGO DEPORTATION OPERATIONS
"Why is he there? In fact, he could complicate the situation. We are talking about a legal process and the possibility of criminal prosecution following. And to have this television character come along for the ride is dangerous and makes no sense."
McGraw filmed a number of ICE arrests during the operations as part of his show on Merit TV, even interviewing a convicted sex offender and internet predator from Thailand living in the U.S. illegally until he was nabbed.
The subject frequently evaded his questions, recognizing him after seeing him on television.
Durbin said he was "disappointed" to see ICE agents arresting immigrants and asking them questions even after they had requested to speak with an attorney.
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He also expressed disdain for Trump's "sweeping executive actions" that could allegedly "leave those arrested by ICE, including those with lawful status and U.S. citizenship, with little opportunity to even state their case and show that they belong in this country."
He continued, "Let’s be clear, 90% of undocumented immigrants have no criminal convictions — 90% who make up more than 40% of home health care aides and children’s assistance day care — an outsized percentage of these and the agricultural workforce are undocumented. Immigrants are a key part of America’s success story."
He added that, while he doesn't want to see "a single dangerous person" remain in the U.S. or be allowed to "seek permanent residence," others have abided by laws and should remain a part of America's future.
ICE officials, under the Trump administration's watch, have nabbed swathes of illegal immigrants in major cities across the nation, including Chicago. Deportation efforts also began in New York City earlier this week, with agents reportedly nabbing alleged Tren de Aragua ringleader Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco in the Bronx.
Fox News' Nikolas Lanum contributed to this report.
Dr. Phil embedded with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) team in Chicago as they carried out deportation operations under the new Trump administration.
Phil McGraw, known as "Dr. Phil," joined border czar Tom Homan and a team of agents on Sunday as they took various illegal immigrants into custody. This comes after Homan declared that Chicago would be "ground zero" for immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's mass deportation plans.
As part of his show on Merit TV, Dr. Phil filmed a variety of arrests—at one point interviewing a convicted sex offender and internet predator from Thailand who was residing illegally in The Windy City.
"You've been charged with sex crimes with children?" Dr. Phil asked.
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"Not really," the man replied.
"Not really!?" Dr. Phil exclaimed.
The man claimed that he had never been deported and that his mother was a U.S. citizen. He also recognized Dr. Phil from his television appearances, often avoiding the famous psychologist's questions.
Homan told Dr. Phil that the man was an example of failed sanctuary city policies.
"We got an illegal alien, convicted of sex crimes involving children. He's walking the streets of Chicago," Homan said. "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."
Trump has criticized sanctuary cities, including Chicago, for resisting federal immigration policies. "We're trying to get rid of them (sanctuary cities). We're trying to end them. And a lot of the people in those communities don't want them," Trump told Fox's Sean Hannity last Wednesday.
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Dr. Phil revealed on the show that he had to be briefed on extensive security protocols as part of the "high-risk mission."
"This truly is a targeted ICE mission because they're not sweeping neighborhoods like people are trying to imply," he said. "I know that because I've been involved heading into this. They've identified 270 high-value targets, and what I mean by that is that these are known criminals and terrorists."
ICE arrested over 460 individuals in the first days of an immigration sweep, targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Offenses included sexual assault, domestic violence, and weapons crimes.
During a conversation at a Chicago-based ICE command center, Dr. Phil asked if agents were going into schools to arrest children who were in the U.S. illegally.
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"Is anything like that happening?" he asked.
"No, sir," Homan said.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has committed to shielding the city's migrant population from federal immigration crackdowns, vowing to uphold the city's sanctuary city policies.
"I find it unconscionable that this administration would attempt to create not just division but fear within our public schools," Johnson said, referring to potential federal raids. He directed city departments to "stand firm and uphold the local ordinance" in compliance with the Illinois Trust Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Fox News' Madison Colombo contributed to this report.
They need more planes.
The Trump administration began its promised deportations of illegal immigrants this week, but senior Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Friday that more aircraft are needed to speed up the process.
Miller told reporters that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had been hampered in its ability to deport illegal migrants because of a lack of aircraft and the administration is trying to secure enough planes from half a dozen sources, per Bloomberg.
ICE raids took place as early as Tuesday and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released photos of people boarding C-17s on Friday morning, announcing that "deportation flights had begun,". One of the photos was taken at Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, U.S. and it was one of two flights that had departed for Guatemala on Thursday at 5 p.m. local time.
Customs and Border Protection sources told Fox News the plane in the image had 80 people. A third flight, bound for Mexico, never took off after Mexico declined to consent to the landing, a State Department official told Fox News.
But on Friday Miller suggested the administration was looking to scale up the operations and was looking into sourcing aircraft including from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to do so.
"You have obviously DHS air assets, you have DOD air assets, you have State Department air assets, you have commercial air assets, you have charter air assets, so every asset that can be used to conduct a lawful deportation," Miller said, per Bloomberg.
"Border czar" Tom Homan told ABC News on Friday that the administration will use military aircraft every day to help carry out the operation.
Around 2,000 illegal immigrants were deported to Mexico on Thursday, both on the ground and in the air. In addition, Mexico detained roughly 5,000 migrants within its borders, Fox News reported.
When asked about the need for more aircraft, Leavitt said that the Trump administration is using both military and non-military aircrafts to accomplish this mission.
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"In one week, the Trump Administration has already facilitated a record number of illegal migrant deportation flights, and the Administration is using both military and non-military aircraft to accomplish this mission," Leavitt said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"Joe Biden allowed tens of millions of illegal criminals into the country, and in order to detain and deport as many as possible, Congress must past a reconciliation bill that includes funding for border enforcement, detention centers, and deportation efforts."
The administration has taken a number of actions to secure the border, including deploying the military, restarting wall construction and ending Biden-era parole programs.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a slew of memos since President Donald Trump's inauguration, ordering reviews of parole and expanding the ability of officials to quickly deport illegal immigrants from the U.S. who have recently arrived. Those memos have been signed by Acting Secretary Benjamine Huffman.
Meanwhile, Miller also said that the administration would use various tools to remove those granted humanitarian parole to enter the country when they otherwise wouldn’t have permission.
"There’s digital footprints, there’s financial footprints, there’s routine law enforcement intelligence," he said. "There’s a wide array of tools we have to identify and remove those individuals."
According to Bloomberg, former President Joe Biden declined to use military aircraft. His administration often used commercial aircraft to deport migrants.
Fox News’ Adam Shaw and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Chicago residents are voicing frustration with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s commitment to shielding the city’s undocumented migrant population from federal immigration crackdowns, citing concerns about community safety and strained resources.
This comes as border czar Tom Homan declared that Chicago would be "ground zero" for immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans.
Mayor Johnson has doubled down on his opposition, vowing to uphold Chicago’s sanctuary city policies.
"I find it unconscionable that this administration would attempt to create not just division but fear within our public schools," Johnson said, referring to potential federal raids. He directed city departments to "stand firm and uphold the local ordinance" in compliance with the Illinois Trust Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement efforts.
However, many residents feel the city’s priorities are misplaced. P Rae Easley, a Chicagoan and host of "Black Excellence Hour," voiced her concerns during a recent appearance on "Fox & Friends First," Thursday.
"We understand that we are in the middle of an invasion," Easley said. "Every single person who came across that border came with an invoice on their back for the Chicago taxpayer."
The financial burden has been a flashpoint for residents. Last December, the city faced backlash over spending more than half a billion dollars to shelter migrants through its New Arrivals Mission. That program became a heated topic at community meetings after Johnson revealed a billion-dollar budget shortfall.
"I got a great way what we can do with this budget," one resident said during a public meeting. "Let’s start with cutting off illegals getting free everything, free housing, free schooling, free food."
The pushback comes as federal authorities ramp up enforcement. During Trump’s presidency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested over 460 individuals in the first days of an immigration sweep, targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Offenses included sexual assault, domestic violence, and weapons crimes.
Easley supports these actions, saying they’re necessary for community safety.
"Nobody else gets to be shielded from federal crimes, and neither do they," she said. "We need everybody to go back where they belong so that we can reallocate our tax funds to the citizens of the city."
In response to Johnson’s sanctuary city stance, the Trump administration has instructed federal prosecutors to investigate state and local officials who obstruct deportation efforts. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, in a memo obtained by Fox News, cited cartels and transnational criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua as one of the "most serious threats facing the American people."
Despite the criticism, Johnson remains steadfast, insisting that protecting migrants aligns with the city’s values. "Chicago stands strong: regardless of the circumstances, our commitment to protecting and supporting this city remains unwavering," Johnson wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
But residents like Easley say the city’s priorities are out of balance.
"We need the federal government here," she argued. "I don’t think that it’s fair that we’re paying federal income taxes, and we are not allowed to get federal help because our mayor has a political goal that doesn’t align with the people."
President Trump has criticized sanctuary cities, including Chicago, for resisting federal immigration policies. "We're trying to get rid of them (sanctuary cities). We're trying to end them. And a lot of the people in those communities don't want them," Trump told Fox’s Sean Hannity on Wednesday.
Lawmakers are also moving to support Trump’s immigration agenda. This week, the House approved the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft or violent crimes. The bill is named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered by a Venezuelan man in the country illegally.
For Easley and others in Chicago, the path forward is clear. "We care more about the children of Chicago than we do the children of the invaders," she said.
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