NW Illinois News

Ogle County Republicans Chairman Mike Koolidge has expressed support for President Trump's actions aimed at removing violent illegal migrants. He criticized local leaders, including Johnson and Pritzker, for not backing these efforts. Koolidge made his remarks to NW Illinois News on January 28.

"Under President Trump's commanding leadership, authorities are finally confronting the dangerous illegal migrants who have been threatening Chicagoland's communities," said Koolidge. "On January 26, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement initiated decisive operations to target and remove these violent criminals, working alongside agencies such as the FBI, DEA, and ATF. The Trump administration is showing that it's willing to take the tough actions needed to keep Illinoisans safe, unlike Chicago's incompetent mayor Brandon Johnson and feckless governor JB Pritzker. Johnson and Pritzker are putting their constituents in harm's way if they are not working to help federal authorities with their vital mission."

According to CNN, the Trump administration conducted a significant immigration crackdown on January 26, resulting in 956 arrests and 554 detainers. This operation was reported as the largest one-day total by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The initiative involved multiple 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 Service. White House border czar Tom Homan described the effort as a "game-changer," highlighting its focus on criminal aliens. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said that local police were not involved in the operation. CNN also noted that ICE field offices are under pressure to meet deportation quotas with intensified enforcement in various locations such as 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 they would support federal, state, and local partners in their mission to reclaim communities and address any unlawful impediments to homeland protection efforts.

Koolidge resides in Rochelle and was elected chairman of the Ogle County Republican Party in 2022. According to the party's website, he is committed to increasing Republican voter turnout, expanding party membership, and effectively communicating the party's positions on issues important to Ogle County voters.