Chicago braces for ICE raids and possible troop deployment
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Protesters rally against federal troop threats in the West Loop on Monday. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
Chicago leaders are preparing this week for what could be the start of expanded immigration raids and National Guard deployments in the city.
Why it matters: The Trump administration says it wants to deploy federal law enforcement into the city to combat crime and assist with immigration enforcement, a move that faces vehement opposition from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and some residents.
State of play: Protesters gathered in the streets of Fulton Market and the West Loop on Monday during the Labor Day holiday to rally against several issues, including the presence of federal officers in the streets.
What they're saying: "We're gonna defend our democracy in the city of Chicago," Johnson said at the protest. "We're gonna protect the humanity of every single person in the city of Chicago."
- Johnson ended his speech by leading the chant "No troops in Chicago."
The big picture: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan have both stated that ICE raids will intensify nationwide starting this week, possibly including staging operations from the Great Lakes Naval Station near North Chicago.
State of play: The mayor said his office is preparing for the deployment of troops by the end of the week.
- "We may see militarized immigration enforcement. We may also see National Guard troops. We may even see active duty military and armed vehicles in our streets," Johnson said at a Saturday press conference.
The intrigue: While both Pritzker and Johnson admit they can't stop federal immigration operations, they've doubled down on the state and city's sanctuary city policies, which prohibit local police from assisting ICE officers without a criminal warrant.
- Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday to outline how the city would resist federal intervention, which includes prohibiting law enforcement from wearing face coverings to conceal their identities, a practice that ICE agents routinely employ.
Pritzker is expressing a similar message on the national scene. "It's an attack on the American people by the president of the United States," the governor said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation."
- "Are any of the red states that vote for him, voted for him, seeing troops in their states, and yet they have higher crime rates than the city of Chicago? No."
Reality check: Even though violent crime in Chicago is lower than in previous years, the city had at least 53 shootings and seven deaths over Labor Day weekend, including two separate mass shootings in Bronzeville.