Immigrants in large cities have been preparing for mass arrests since Trump won election in November, but reports that his initial push would be in the Chicago area has brought a new sense of urgency and fear.

Immigrants and groups advocating for them have been preparing since Trump made mass deportations a signature pledge of his campaign. Trump has often been critical of Chicago, which has some of the country’s strongest protections for people in the country without legal status.

Plans remain fluid—but there is no doubt of a push for highly visible raids in Democratic cities in the first days of the new administration

President-elect Donald Trump's administration will launch immigration sweeps in multiple U.S. cities almost as soon as he takes office on Monday with Chicago considered a likely first location, officials and rights advocates said.

Details of planned immigration raids are unclear, but they would be the opening step in the president-elect’s goal of overseeing the largest deportation program in history.