Chicago’s migrant community prepares for potential ICE raids after Trump takes office
CHICAGO (CBS) — As President-elect Donald Trump promises a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration as soon as he is sworn in on Monday, local Chicago leaders and immigrant rights groups met Saturday morning in the Pilsen neighborhood to ensure the community is prepared.
The incoming Trump administration is planning to step up action Illegal immigrant arrests to be made in major U.S. cities next week When President-elect Donald Trump takes office, he aims to limit “sanctuary” jurisdictions that cooperate with federal immigration officials, two sources familiar with the plan told CBS News.
Sources told CBS News that sanctuary cities such as Chicago could be targeted as early as Tuesday.
A U.S. official familiar with the development told CBS News that Chicago-area ICE officials recently requested agents to participate in post-inauguration arrests without the knowledge of senior agency leaders in Washington.
Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, many immigrant rights groups in the Chicago area have been reaching out to undocumented immigrants. Try to be prepared for what may happen.
Mari Rodriguez said “there are good days and there are bad days,” but she’s grateful to sell tamales to the Pilsen community every day.
“We come to work. We come to work,” she said.
She immigrated from Venezuela and had only been in Chicago for a year.
“Yes, I live in Chicago,” she said.
Rodriguez said she was worried about what might happen Tuesday if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrive in Chicago as promised by President-elect Trump’s border czar, Tom Homanhe said Chicago would become “ground zero” for mass evictions.
“We’ll start in Chicago, Illinois,” Homan said during a visit to Chicago last month..
U.S. Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL) said such threats are not new to immigrant communities.
“This community has been the target of raids and immigration raids since the 1960s,” he said. “It is to be expected that they want to intimidate a city that stands up for justice and protects all people.”
Garcia and other local elected leaders joined immigrant advocates Saturday to reassure and remind the undocumented community of their rights.
“You have the right to remain silent. You have the right not to open the door. You have the right to ask to speak to an attorney,” said Ere Rendon, vice president of immigration justice for the local nonprofit Resurrection Project.
The reminder came just a day after the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources, that as many as 200 ICE agents would arrive in Chicago as early as Tuesday to carry out mass deportations.
“Right now, there’s been no official announcement or order that a raid is going to happen. Do we expect to have more agents here? Absolutely. Maybe starting Tuesday? We don’t know,” Garcia said. “It’s going to take time. The important thing is to stay calm, just like Chicago has done at other times when it’s been tested.”
In 2018, ICE raids occurred in Chicago, but in 2022, the American Civil Liberties Union reached a settlement with the Department of Homeland Security requiring ICE to change the way it operates in Illinois.
“ICE should not be able to walk up to random people on the street and ask to see their documents, which is why it’s important that people have the right to remain silent if ICE does this,” Rendon said.
The message immigration advocates want to send is not to be afraid, but to be prepared.
“No matter your legal status, you have rights,” said U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL).
Hispanic leaders in Chicago say they are preparing for possible changes but say some impacts are already starting to be felt.
“It creates all kinds of fear and instability, especially for our economy,” Ramirez said.
Project Resurrection has set up a hotline to provide assistance to families affected by ICE raids and wants to make sure everyone calls the hotline: 855-435-7693
