On January 26, 2025, TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw joined some ICE agents for a deportation operation in Chicago. This was part of a bigger push to ramp up immigration enforcement under President Trump. The operation, headed by border czar Tom Homan, ended up with nearly 1,000 people getting arrested in several cities like Chicago, Denver, Austin, and Los Angeles.
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In Chicago, Dr. Phil saw ICE agents grabbing Sam Seda, a Thai guy and a convicted child sex offender who confessed he was in the U.S. illegally. This arrest was brought up to show how the administration is really focused on locking up people with serious criminal records.
Dr. Phil’s presence during the raid has stirred up a lot of controversy. Many people think that having him there makes serious law enforcement actions feel more like a show. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul didn’t hold back, saying, “It’s making a mockery of what is supposed to be a focused effort… if it’s law enforcement aiming to catch criminals, then you really shouldn’t have someone without a law enforcement background hanging around.”
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Recent operations have cranked up the tension in places like Chicago, which has labeled itself a sanctuary city and is keeping its distance from federal immigration enforcement. Local leaders are worried about federal overreach and its effects on immigrant communities. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has stressed that the state will stick to its sanctuary laws but also mentioned the need to tackle violent crime. He said, “We’re going to follow the law in Illinois. We expect them to do the same, and I’m very afraid they will not follow the law.”
When celebrities like Dr. Phil get involved in law enforcement, it makes you think about how media and entertainment mix with serious policy issues. As the government steps up its immigration enforcement, there’s ongoing chatter about the tactics and messaging being used in these efforts.
