Dr. Phil Joins ICE Raids On Undocumented Migrants, Defends Trump Crackdown

Tami RoemerJanuary 27, 2025, 11:14 pmNews >

TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw joined U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on a ride-along Sunday as part of a nationwide crackdown targeting undocumented immigrants, including individuals with criminal records.

During the ride-along in Chicago, McGraw witnessed a tense moment as ICE officers arrested Sam Seda, an undocumented immigrant from Thailand, who was wanted on charges of child sex crimes. When McGraw asked Seda if he had been charged with child sex offenses, Seda responded, “Not really,” visibly shocking the TV host. ICE officials confirmed that Seda had a criminal record for sex offenses involving children.

Tom Homan, ICE’s Border Czar, said Seda’s case highlighted the risks posed by sanctuary cities, where local authorities limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. “Sanctuary cities allow dangerous individuals to remain on the streets,” Homan said.

The ICE raids are part of a larger nationwide operation aimed at apprehending high-priority criminals, including violent offenders. According to ICE, the raids resulted in 956 arrests in several U.S. cities, including Chicago, Denver and San Jose.

Local leaders, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), have criticized the operation as federal overreach. Others argue that these raids, while targeting some criminals, often result in the arrest of undocumented migrants with no violent history or connection to criminal activity. Local law enforcement officials have voiced concerns that the presence of ICE agents in their communities undermines public safety, as residents may become reluctant to report crimes or cooperate with police for fear of being detained or deported.

The raids also come amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Colombia over the deportation of migrants. Initially, the Colombian government refused to accept deported migrants on military flights from the U.S. But after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs and sanctions, Colombian President Gustavo Petro agreed to accept deportees, even going as far as to offer his own presidential plane to facilitate their return.

Despite the controversy surrounding the raids, both Dr. Phil and Homan defended the operations, stressing that removing dangerous criminals from communities is vital for public safety.