Dozens of pro-immigration activists held a rally on Chicago's Southwest Side on Monday to protest President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming deportation plans.
Mexican flag-waving groups have chosen Pilsen, one of the Mexican neighborhoods on Chicago's south side, to “educate” people about the coming Trump deportation policy, especially since Chicago has recently become one of the countries to come. They targeted incoming Border Czar Tom Homan, who alerted authorities. The first focus of the administration.
“Border czar Tom Homan came to Chicago and said he was going to start deporting people from day one,” activist Yesenia Puebla said. saidaccording to WLS-TV.
Activists hope to convince immigrants not to fear deportation and learn how to avoid conflict with ICE.
In fact, Homan claimed in October that Chicago would be ground zero for his focus.
“We're going to start here in Chicago, Illinois. If the mayor of Chicago doesn't want to help, he can stand down,” Homan warned. “But if he gets in our way, if he knowingly harbors or conceals illegal aliens, I will prosecute him.”
He added that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be scouring Chicago for “criminals and gang members,” adding, “Stay tuned. It's going to happen.”
Chicago Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th) added that the plan going forward is to focus on criminals, not dreamers and law-abiding immigrants.
This month, two aldermen teamed up to introduce an amendment that would change current city rules to allow the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to work with ICE to deport arrested criminals. did.
“I believe in immigrants and I believe Chicago should be welcoming, but if you choose to do something that is dangerous and illegal, there should be no shelter for you in my city. I understand that,” said Councilman Raymond Lopez (15th place). said News Nation.
The amendment, co-sponsored by Councilwoman Silvana Tavares (23rd), reinstates an earlier policy that allowed for limited cooperation with federal authorities, which was introduced in 2021 by Lori Lightfoot. Significant changes were made under the mayor.
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