The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Monday it has launched an immigration crackdown in Chicago, as President Trump mulls sending federal troops into the nation’s third-largest city to combat crime.

In a statement announcing “Operation Midway Blitz,” DHS singled out Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender who has warned Trump not to send federal troops into his state.

“This ICE operation will target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets,” DHS said in the statement.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have already been deployed to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Boston as part of an expanded initiative to deport those in the country illegally.

The Supreme Court on Monday gave the Trump administration a big win in its deportation efforts, lifting a judge’s limits on immigration stops in Los Angeles to allow them to take place based on whether a person speaks Spanish or works in a particular profession.

The 6-3 ruling cut along ideological lines.

Writing in her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the decision is “unconscionably irreconcilable with our Nation’s constitutional guarantees.”

“That decision is yet another grave misuse of our emergency docket,” Sotomayor wrote. “We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent.”

Trump said over the weekend he will be sending the National Guard to New Orleans to fight crime.

New Orleans has a Democratic mayor, but Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has blamed crime in the state on progressive policies.

Trump has gone back and forth on sending troops into Chicago, as Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) warn him not to do it.

The president appears to have backed off his threats, saying he believes it’s necessary but only wants to go where he’s invited.

“We’d love to go into Chicago,” Trump said Monday. “We’re waiting for a call from Chicago.”

This comes as Trump’s 30-day emergency declaration to take control of D.C.’s police department is set expire on Wednesday. It does not appear that Congress will renew the emergency order.

It’s unclear how long National Guard troops will remain in the District. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has opposed the federal intervention, although she’s celebrated the drop in crime.

Trump on Monday said “the people of D.C. are thrilled,” while acknowledging that Bowser has been “taking a lot of heat” for coordinating with the federal government.

“She’s allowing it,” Trump said Monday. “But look, she’s going to either allow it or we’ll just do it.”

ICE agents raided a Hyundai plant in Georgia over the weekend and detained 475 people, most of them from South Korea.

The raid came after a monthlong investigation into illegal hiring at the site, where Hyundai is teaming up with LG Energy Solution to manufacture batteries to power EVs.

The South Korean government intervened and said 300 of those who were detained are set to be released. South Korea President Lee Jae Myung said he would send a charter plane to bring back his country’s citizens.

The Hill’s Ian Swanson writes:

“The South Korean workers at the plant appeared to be caught up in two separate Trump narratives: the president’s efforts to forcibly crack down on immigration and his efforts to leverage trade to get foreign trading partners to make huge investments in the U.S. In this case, the South Korean workers who were detained were there to help build the plant, and Trump in his remarks threaded the needle of welcoming the investments while insisting immigration laws had to be respected.”

Trump posted on Truth Social after the raid, saying South Korean investments are “welcome” in the U.S., while emphasizing that workers must be in the U.S. legally.

“We encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so,” Trump said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she doesn’t think the raid will deter future investments.

“This is a great opportunity for us to make sure that all companies are reassured that when you come to the United States, you’ll know what the rules of the game are,” Noem said at a meeting in London of ministers from the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing partnership.

“We’re encouraging all companies who want to come to the United States and help our economy and employ people, that we encourage them to employ U.S. citizens and to bring people to our country that want to follow our laws and work here the right way,” she added.

💡Perspectives:

• The Liberal Patriot: How Democrats can refine political conflict.

• The Atlantic: What cities actually want from Trump to fight crime.

• American Prospect: Concerns raised about human trafficking at Hyundai.

• USA Today: Meta became the free speech champions we need.

• Wall Street Journal: Another university president quits.

Read more: 

• Republicans unveil slew of bills to overhaul DC criminal justice policies.

• Rep. Vasquez: ‘Democrats are ready’ to prioritize immigration enforcement.

• The estate of Jeffrey Epstein has turned over a tranche of documents subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee, with Democrats on Monday releasing the birthday letter at the center of Trump’s libel suit against The Wall Street Journal.

• A federal appeals court panel upheld writer E. Jean Carroll’s $83.3 million defamation award from President Trump, rejecting Trump’s claims of presidential immunity.

   

• President Trump said Monday his Department of Education would issue guidance to protect the right to prayer in public schools.

   

• Here are five things to know about the Trump administration ditching a plan to compensate flyers for disruptions.

©  Greg Nash

The government will shut down in 22 calendar days, giving lawmakers only 10 more legislative workdays to come to an agreement on funding.

Republicans and Democrats are signaling the likeliest option is a 45-day “clean” continuing resolution to fund the government that would not include any substantial funding cuts.

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton writes:

“Democrats are trying to keep the path open to a deal to avoid a government shutdown by saying privately they are not going to draw a red line against President Trump’s $5 billion pocket rescission in the spending talks, preferring instead to let the courts handle Trump’s attempt to sidestep Congress by rescinding funding unilaterally.”

Still, the White House’s efforts to claw back previously appropriated Congressional funds has sewn distrust with Democrats, who worry that any agreement they reach will be breached by future rescissions.

On Monday, two top Democratic lawmakers accused the Trump administration of blocking more than $400 billion in federal funding that they say is at risk of lapsing at the end of the month.

“We are now nine months into the year—and weeks away from the end of the fiscal year—and President Trump and Russ Vought continue to withhold hundreds of billions of dollars from families, farmers, children, small businesses, and communities in every part of the country,” Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the top Democrats on the Senate and House appropriations committees, said in a statement.

The Trump administration on Monday asked the Supreme Court to let it freeze billions of dollars in foreign aid.

The Justice Department’s emergency application comes after a federal appeals court upheld a judge’s order requiring the administration spend funds that Congress approved for foreign aid programs before they expire on Sept. 30.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that the lower court’s injunction would force the administration to spend the money at “breakneck speed” to meet the deadline, even as it seeks approval from Congress to rescind the funds.

“The President can hardly speak with one voice in foreign affairs or in dealings with Congress when the district court is forcing the Executive Branch to advocate against its own objectives,” Sauer wrote.

MEANWHILE…

Democrats are also distrustful of one another after the previous shutdown showdown revealed a split between their leaders in the Senate and the House.

The Hill’s Mike Lillis writes:

“Democrats were virtually united against a Republican spending bill in March, only to watch angrily as Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and a small group of upper chamber Democrats backed the bill, sending it to President Trump’s desk.”

Democrats say they think they’re all on the same page this time around.

“The world has literally changed since that occurred,” Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) said. “[Schumer] made a calculated risk and it did not turn out well. I don’t think he’ll make that mistake twice.

💡Perspectives:

• The Hill: Vote to decrease the debt limit.

• The Bulwark: Democrats don’t all have to sound alike.

• The Hill: Trump falls in polls, but Democrats shouldn’t get too comfortable.

• New York: Newsom’s responsible retaliation against Trump.

• CMPI: Barbarians at the hospital gates.

Read more: 

• Senate Republicans barrel toward nuclear option on Trump nominees.

• Where the Epstein files fight in Congress goes next.

• Senate GOP frustration grows after quick exits of key Trump officials.

• Democrats urge caution in battle over vaccines, RFK Jr.

©  Ukrainian Emergency Service

President Trump says he’s ready to slap additional sanctions on Russia after fresh attacks against Ukraine over the weekend.

“Yeah, I am,” Trump told a reporter, who asked whether he’s ready to move forward with Phase 2 of the sanctions.

On Sunday, Moscow launched its largest drone attack since the war began, setting fire to a government building in Kyiv and killing at least two people.

“I’m not thrilled with what’s happening,” Trump said. “I believe we’re going to get it settled. I’m not happy with anything having to do with that war.”

The president said European leaders will visit the White House this week amid stalled peace talks. 

MEANWHILE…

CNN reported Friday that the White House is considering potential strikes against drug cartels in Venezuela after the U.S. bombed a drug boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing 11 alleged drug smugglers.

Democrats and some Libertarian-leaning Republicans are furious over the strike against the alleged drug boat, arguing the government’s extrajudicial bombing is illegal.

Vice President Vance defended the strike.

“Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military,” Vance posted on X.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) responded to Vance:

“Did he ever read To Kill a Mockingbird? Did he ever wonder what might happen if the accused were immediately executed without trial or representation??” Paul posted.

“What a despicable and thoughtless sentiment it is to glorify killing someone without a trial,” he added.

ELSEWHERE…

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff offered a new ceasefire proposal to Hamas that requires the release of hostages, according to Axios.

Trump on Sunday issued his “last warning” to Hamas to accept the deal.

“The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one.”

💡Perspectives:

• American Greatness: Trump’s tech-dominated war production board.

• Washington Post: In defense of the War Department.

• Financial Times: Why the Fed should not cut rates now.

• The Free Press: Is MAHA fixing things or making them worse?

• The Hill: The media thinks election conspiracies are good again.

Read more: 

• Trump’s Fed chair finalists are Hassett, Warsh and Waller.

• Bessent: US would have to give back half of tariffs if it loses at SCOTUS.

• 4 in 10 buying fewer things because of tariffs: Poll.

• Postal deliveries from world to US drop 80 percent.

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