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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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Chicago is bracing for President Donald Trump to enact his mass deportation policy and conduct sweeping immigration raids.
In a Tuesday interview, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, reaffirmed that city authorities won't cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"If they come in with warrants, if they (ICE) come in with their authority, no, we won't again intervene or support in any way," Johnson told NPR. "But what I can say is that we have worked with community-based organizations as well as other stakeholders so that the people of Chicago know their rights."
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He added, "People can continue to go to work. They can go to school. They can use our public facilities without the fear of local police departments giving access to these federal agents."
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Why It Matters
Mass deportations, stricter measures against illegal immigration and enhanced border security were core components of Trump's policy agenda.
Trump has pledged to implement the largest deportation program in U.S. history and, shortly after his inauguration on January 20, signed a series of executive orders aimed at "sealing the border."
What To Know
According to The Associated Press, federal immigration officers were reportedly preparing a large-scale raid in Chicago, aiming to target around 300 individuals. The report, released on Saturday, cited unnamed sources.
However, Tom Homan, the "border czar," has said Trump's plans to launch a major immigration raid in Chicago next week are under review after details of the operation were leaked to the press.
Chicago is one of several sanctuary cities in the U.S. that limit or deny cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
NPR questioned Johnson on how the city is preparing for the mass deportation raids now under the Trump administration.
Johnson said all city agencies will not cooperate with federal immigration authorities to carry out Trump's mass deportation plans.
The Chicago mayor reaffirmed the city's status as a sanctuary city and said he would protect undocumented immigrants in his city.
Meanwhile, the Little Village Community Council distributed flyers to inform immigrants about their rights in the event of an encounter with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
It comes after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly issued new directives that rescind restrictions placed on ICE agents under former President Biden, per Fox News.
These directives also initiate a review of the humanitarian parole program utilized for admitting migrants.
The first directive revokes a 2021 memo from former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. That memo had expanded the list of "protected areas" where ICE was prohibited from conducting immigration enforcement. It aimed to ensure that enforcement actions did not impede individuals' access to essential services or participation in critical activities.
These protected areas included schools, universities, healthcare facilities, places of worship, locations where children gather, social service agencies, food banks, religious or civil ceremonies and disaster or emergency response and relief centers.
What People Are Saying
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told NPR: "As the mayor of the city of Chicago, I reaffirmed our commitment to being a sanctuary city and also pledged to defend the Illinois Trust Act as a sanctuary state to ensure that all residents' rights are protected and we are serving the interests of working people every single day."
We are firm that our police department will not intervene or participate in any way.
"We're assuring the people of this city that we're going to protect their rights, and that's what I've been charged to do as mayor of Chicago.
"I'm going to protect those whether you're undocumented Whether you are seeking asylum or whether you're seeking a good-paying job, we're going to fight and stand up for working people.
Lou Sandoval, President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, told Newsweek: "What I'm hearing from business leaders across the state is that there is a growing number of unfilled jobs—and the Illinois business community needs immigrant labor to fulfill their economic potential."
Little Village Community Council president Baltazar Enriquez said, according to CBS News: "One of the main things is letting them [immigrants] know not to sign anything, not to say anything, not to answer questions, and stay quiet."
"The flyer that we're giving out, it has phone numbers for the consulate—the Mexican consulate, the Honduran consulate, the Guatemalan consulate and attorneys that are willing to help them out for free," Enriquez said.
What Happens Next
The situation in Chicago remains fluid as city officials, community organizations and federal authorities prepare for potential actions. The leaked details of the planned ICE raid have added to the uncertainty, and it is unclear if the operation will proceed as originally intended or undergo significant changes.
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