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Federal immigration officers will target more than 300 people with histories of egregious, violent crimes after President-elect Donald Trump takes office Monday, an official said, marking his administration鈥檚 initial attempt toward fulfilling his promise of large-scale deportations.

The operation will be concentrated in the Chicago area, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because plans have not been made public. Arrests are expected all week.

U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement arrests a fraction of its targets in such operations, though Mr. Trump is expected to cast a wider net than President Joe Biden, whose focus on picking up people away from the border was largely limited to those with serious criminal histories and national security threats. Mr. Trump鈥檚 aides have said they will arrest others, such as spouses or roommates, who are not targets but happen to be in the country illegally.

ICE and the Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. The plan was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal, which said the operation is expected to begin Tuesday.

President-elect Trump鈥檚 incoming border czar, Tom Homan, told Fox News that Chicago will be one of many places across the country where federal authorities plan to make arrests.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to take the handcuffs off ICE and let them go arrest criminal aliens. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 going to happen,鈥� Mr. Homan said Friday. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e telling ICE, you鈥檙e going to go enforce the immigration law without apology. You鈥檙e going to concentrate on the worst first, public safety threats first, but no one is off the table. If they鈥檙e in the country illegally, they got a problem.鈥欌��

Mr. Trump told NBC News on Saturday that mass deportations remain a top priority. He didn鈥檛 give an exact date or city where they鈥檒l start, but he said they would begin soon.

鈥淰ery early, very quickly鈥� and very cold

鈥淚t鈥檒l begin very early, very quickly,鈥� he said, adding: 鈥淚 can鈥檛 say which cities because things are evolving. And I don鈥檛 think we want to say what city. You鈥檒l see it firsthand.鈥�

鈥淲e have to get the criminals out of our country. And I think you would agree with that. I don鈥檛 know how anyone could not agree.鈥�

Next week鈥檚 operations are subject to potential weather delays, the official said. Forecasters have warned the Chicago area is facing bitter cold temperatures beginning Sunday that could stretch through the week.

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

The nation鈥檚 third-largest city became a so-called sanctuary city in the 1980s, limiting how police can cooperate with federal immigration agents. It has strengthened those policies several times since, including after Mr. Trump first took office eight years ago.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and first-term Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have said they won鈥檛 back off those commitments. Mr. Johnson in November called Mr. Trump鈥檚 deportation plans 鈥渟mall and soft.鈥�

Starting in Chicago

Mr. Homan blasted top Democratic leaders in the state during a visit to the Chicago area last month, during which he indicated that enforcement would start in Chicago.

鈥淭he reality is that I think there has been a level of fear since Election Day,鈥� Brandon Lee, a spokesperson for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said Saturday. 鈥淲e were always operating as though Trump was going to target Chicago and Illinois early in his administration.鈥�

Advocates have been working to inform immigrants of their rights, creating phone trees to notify them about where officers are making arrests and advising them that officers often work in the early morning hours. Officers typically work without warrants that entitle them to forcibly enter a home.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just trying to be as ready as we can,鈥� Mr. Lee said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e never going to know all the details (of ICE operations). But for members of the community, knowing their rights is empowering.鈥�

At a news conference Saturday, Democratic U.S. Reps. Jesus Garcia and Delia Ramirez urged immigrants in Chicago to remain calm and exercise their rights, particularly to remain silent and refuse to allow officers into their homes without warrants.

鈥淲e are being tested once again,鈥� Representative Garcia said. 鈥淲e have experience defending our community.鈥�

This story was reported by The Associated Press