Chicago’s migrant neighborhood prepares for potential ICE raids after Trump takes workplace

CHICAGO (CBS) — With President-elect Donald Trump having pledged to stage a sweeping crackdown on unlawful immigration instantly after he takes the oath of workplace on Monday, native leaders and immigrant rights teams in Chicago met Saturday morning within the Pilsen neighborhood to verify the neighborhood is ready.

The incoming Trump administration is planning to ramp up operations to arrest unauthorized immigrants throughout main U.S. cities subsequent week after President-elect Donald Trump takes workplace, focusing on “sanctuary” jurisdictions that restrict cooperation with federal immigration officers, two sources aware of the plans inform CBS Information.

Sources inform CBS information sanctuary cities like Chicago can be focused as early as Tuesday.

ICE officers within the Chicago space just lately put out a request for brokers to take part within the post-inauguration arrest operations, unbeknownst to high company leaders in Washington, a U.S. official aware of the developments advised CBS Information.

Many immigrant rights teams within the Chicago space have been reaching out to undocumented immigrants forward of Trump’s inauguration, in an effort to prepare for what is perhaps coming.

Mari Rodriguez mentioned “there are good days and there are unhealthy days,” however she’s grateful for each day she works promoting tamales to the Pilsen neighborhood.

“We got here to work. We got here to work,” she mentioned.

She migrated from Venezuela, and has been in Chicago only a 12 months.

“Sure, I stay right here in Chicago,” she mentioned.

Rodriguez mentioned she’s fearful about what would possibly occur on Tuesday if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrive in Chicago as promised by President-elect Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, who has mentioned Chicago can be “floor zero” for his or her mass deportation efforts.

“We will begin proper right here in Chicago, Illinois,” Homan mentioned throughout a go to to Chicago final month.

U.S. Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL) mentioned such threats are nothing new to the migrant neighborhood.

“This neighborhood has been the topic of assaults and immigration raids going again to the Nineteen Sixties,” he mentioned. “That they wish to intimidate a metropolis that will get up for justice and safety for everybody is to be anticipated.”.

Garcia and different native elected leaders joined immigrant advocates on Saturday to reassure and remind the undocumented neighborhood of their rights.

“You will have the proper to stay silent. You will have the proper to not open the door. You will have the proper to ask to talk to an legal professional,” mentioned Ere Rendon, vp of immigrant justice for The Resurrection Venture, an area nonprofit.

The reminder comes a day after a Wall Avenue Journal report cited sources claiming as much as 200 ICE brokers are coming to Chicago as early as Tuesday to hold out large-scale deportation efforts.

“Proper now, there is no such thing as a official assertion or order that raids are going to be going down. Can we anticipate further brokers to be despatched right here? After all. Beginning maybe on Tuesday? We do not know,” Garcia mentioned. “It is going to take time. The necessary factor is to stay calm, as Chicago has finished when examined in different occasions as properly.”

ICE raids occurred in Chicago in 2018, however in 2022 the American Civil Liberties Union settled a lawsuit with the Division of Homeland Safety, requiring adjustments in how ICE can function in Illinois.

“ICE shouldn’t be going as much as random folks on the streets and asking to see their documentation, and that is why it is necessary that individuals that they’ve the proper to stay silent if ICE does do this,” Rendon mentioned.

The message migrant advocates needed to ship is to not be afraid, however to be ready.

“No matter your authorized standing, you have got rights,” U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) mentioned.

Hispanic leaders in Chicago mentioned they’re bracing for what adjustments could come, however mentioned some results are already beginning to present.

“It causes all kinds of fears and destabilization, particularly into our economic system,” Ramirez mentioned.

The Resurrection Venture arrange a hotline to assist households in the event that they’re affected by an ICE raid and so they needed to verify everybody had it: 855-435-7693