How mass deportations could play out in Chicago

Sanctuary and welcoming cities, including Chicago, are bracing for broad immigration actions from President-elect Trump when he takes office next month.

Why it matters: While some welcome the moves, mass deportations, workplace raids and withholding of federal funds could deeply hurt the city's finances, businesses and residents.

Driving the news: Last month Trump reaffirmed his vow to declare a state of emergency and use the military to execute mass deportations.

• The incoming administration is developing a plan to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities that don't assist with deportations, per the Washington Post.
• Trump's border czar nominee Tom Homan even threatened to jail Denver Mayor Mike Johnston for protecting undocumented immigrants.
• The U.S. Senate could resume investigations of Chicago's use of O'Hare and Midway Airports to house migrants last year, potentially withholding transportation funds, the Tribune reports.

Defining terms: As a "welcoming city" and state, Chicago and Illinois prohibit local law enforcement from assisting federal agents in the execution of immigration enforcement.

• The act of being present in the U.S. without documents is not in itself a federal crime.
• Local police, however, can assist in apprehending those wanted for a particular crime when presented with a federal criminal warrant.

The big picture: An estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the U.S., and deportations could affect roughly 20 million families nationwide.

Zoom in: As of 2022, Illinois was home to about 400,000 undocumented immigrants with about 300,000 working (making up 5% of the overall workforce), according to Pew Research released late last year.

• Local industries most reliant on undocumented workers, according to the research, include manufacturing, food processing and hospitality.

Reality check: A true attempt to deport millions of people would face big hurdles including a need for more administrative infrastructure, immigration judges and $150 billion to $350 billion in funding.

What they're saying: "There's no way there's gonna be a mass deportation, because we don't have the manpower for it," Northwest Side alder and Trump supporter Nick Sposato tells Axios.

• "But I think he should focus first on [removing] the hardcore criminals and then look at other people who are here illegally or working illegally."

The other side: "We don't know the specifics of on-the-ground enforcement and what it will look like in Chicago after inauguration, which is why it's all the more important that people know their rights," said Brandon Lee of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

What's next: ICIRR has been holding a series of "know your rights" workshops to inform immigrants and their allies about city, state and federal laws.

• More will be announced later this month on ICIRR's social media.