Across the U.S., cities are grappling with the aggressive presence of armed immigration agents, often bypassing due process in detaining not only immigrants but also citizens. In my own small Illinois city, Evanston, there has been rising concern about these practices. Rachel Maddow recently highlighted a local handbook aimed at enhancing community responsiveness.
Evanston is a progressive hub in a predominantly blue state. Nestled just north of Chicago, it houses Northwestern University’s flagship campus.
With a diverse population of around 76,000, Evanston is recognized for its liberal values, educational achievements, and strong civic participation.
Lately, residents have attracted national attention for their peaceful resistance against heavily armed Border Patrol agents who have reportedly been detaining individuals from parking lots and public streets.
In the Chicago area, President Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz” employs helicopters and unmarked vehicles to apprehend both immigrants and U.S. citizens, often for seemingly innocuous tasks like “gardening while brown.”
This may sound exaggerated, but consider Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s comments. In a recent case, he suggested that “apparent ethnicity” could be a valid reason for immigration detentions, particularly concerning those working in sectors such as landscaping, especially if they speak Spanish or have an accent.
This controversial approach has been taking place in Evanston for several weeks. Mayor Daniel Biss remarked that federal agents seemed to be targeting individuals with darker skin tones, stating, “They picked them up, they captured them, they kidnapped them.”
In light of this, as Maddow noted, diligent residents have been employing whistles and digital networks to alert each other about the presence of “armed undercover agents” in their neighborhoods.
The city government has also taken a stand. In collaboration with a local immigrant rights group, Evanston now prohibits the use of city resources for immigration enforcement, unless there’s a valid warrant involved.
Things escalated on Halloween when three Americans monitoring federal activities were detained by Border Patrol agents. Eyewitnesses reported that agents aggressively pulled the pair from their vehicle after a minor traffic incident.
Following this, a crowd quickly formed, as seen on video, chanting and blowing whistles to demand the release of those taken into custody.
One protester was reportedly arrested during this confrontation, and video footage showed police officers managing the situation with drawn weapons.
Contradicting the Department of Homeland Security’s narrative, footage allegedly showed protesters being labeled as aggressors, leading to claims of false evidence being presented in court.
As federal agents drove away with the detainees—who were eventually released without charges—community members followed them, visibly unsettled by the coordinated backlash.
In the following days, protests continued and Mayor Biss rallied residents to assert, “Get ICE out of Evanston once and for all.”
A vigil was held the next day, attended by hundreds, featuring speakers including local religious leaders and former migrant workers. Mayor Biss concluded the gathering by emphasizing that Evanston would not be intimidated.
Interestingly, Biss is one of several candidates in the Democratic primary for a vacant congressional seat but refrained from mentioning the election during the demonstrations. For him, unity in Evanston seemed far more crucial than political ambitions.
Despite all efforts, there isn’t a handbook that can entirely mitigate the issue of armed federal agents infiltrating communities. Yet, these initiatives can empower residents to communicate warnings and document injustices.
Kids aware of the dangers posed by their local DHS can stay focused on school, while workers might find refuge in holding onto their jobs and coping with financial strains.
As one resident aptly put it, while “DHS is just getting started,” the community too is bracing for the long haul, asserting, “We’re not giving up.”
Stephen Lubet is Emeritus Professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, having resided in Evanston since 1980.
