Part 5/13:
Despite protests, DHS officials maintain that the crackdown is necessary, emphasizing Chicago's historical ties to cartel activity, especially with Mexican drug syndicates like Sinaloa and TDA. Chicago's strategic central location, freight hubs, interstate highways, and airports make it an ideal logistical center for drug distribution across the U.S., and federal law enforcement has previously identified the city as a command point for Mexican cartels.