DeKALB – ICE has continued their enforcement in Chicago with agents throughout the city. ICE agents have reportedly been spotted near grocery stores, schools and in neighborhoods.
On Sept. 9, ICE launched Operation Midway Blitz, an operation aimed at arresting immigrants with criminal records who moved to Chicago. It was reported that Governor Pritzker was not informed on the operation by the Trump administration, as ICE agents occupied a nearby naval base.
As ICE moved throughout the city, people in Chicago took notice of the variety of tactics they were using, such as the use of unmarked vehicles. ICE agents have been seen using large moving vans for raids, as well as waiting inside institutions, such as courthouses, to arrest immigrants. As ICE began to wait inside establishments, the effects quickly showed.
“Individuals in immigrant communities that are shop owners are talking about a decrease in economic activity and impacting their businesses, which totally makes sense,” said Director of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Simon Weffer.
In a video uploaded to social media, Illinois State Senator Karina Villa was seen telling people to stay indoors as ICE entered a neighborhood. While some communities feel the need to make changes, they also rise up to resist it.
“I think this is what makes Chicago different in terms of the communities making changes, but at the same time trying not to change, but also resist it,” Weffer said. “While you will see some negative impacts, I think a potential positive impact is that you’re going to see more organizing and mobilizing and more community cohesion.”
In the wake of ICE around Chicago, many organizations took the opportunity to provide resources and support for immigrant communities.
“You’ll see some positive impacts in terms of what we would do in the social movements area called mobilizing structures. So it’s the creation of organizations. It’s the creation of network connections,” Weffer said.
The increase in ICE activity has also led to the cancellation of many Mexican Independence Day events set to take place in Chicago.
Events such as El Grito Fest, organized by the Mexican Consul General, and the Latin Heritage Festival were both cancelled due to safety concerns for the community.
However, a Mexican Independence Day parade continued in Little Village. Signs which read “ICE out of Chicago” and “Hands off Chicago” were everywhere throughout the parade, as many participants made their message clear that celebration events should not be silenced.
While some of the celebrations weren’t as full as last year, the Mexican community still took the opportunity to come together.
Immigration crackdown is still continuing in Chicago, as the threat of the National Guard being deployed continues to loom.
