CHICAGO (WLS) — A protest was held by immigration activists Sunday on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
Their goal is to raise awareness and educate the public about the commitments made by the incoming Trump administration to kick off large-scale deportations of undocumented immigrants from day one.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The corner of 18th Street, Blue Island, and Loomis in Pilsen holds significant symbolism in the predominantly Mexican community. Dozens of individuals gathered there to denounce Donald Trump’s immigration policies a week and a day before he is inaugurated as President for the second time.
“His border czar Tom Homan came to Chicago and said he’s going to start deporting people on day one,” activist Yesenia Puebla said.
It is a promise, President-elect Trump made over and over while on the campaign trail.
“On day one, I will launch the largest deportations of criminal program in American history,” Trump said.
It is the pledge to deport the over 11 million undocumented individuals residing in the country that prompted both the protest in Pilsen on Sunday and a seminar in Waukegan. Post the assembly at United Giving Hope, an immigration lawyer was present to offer guidance to undocumented immigrants.
“To avoid an expedited removal they should always carry evidence that they have lived inside the U.S. for more than two years,” immigration attorney Rosalba Piña.
Education, not fear, is the message activists are trying to promote. Chief among them Sunday was Elvira Arellano, a woman who 22 years ago gained national headlines when following her arrest for working at O’Hare Airport without documents. She took refuge inside Pilsen’s United Methodist Church to avoid being deported and separated from her young son. Today, he is all grown up.
“I started fighting 22 years ago,” Arellano said in Spanish. “I haven’t tired of it yet. I haven’t lost hope that something that can be done to help all of us.”
Others, however, believe there can be a middle ground. In City Council, two conservative Latino alders, Silvana Tabares and Ray Lopez, are seeking to amend Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance to allow Chicago police to work with ICE to weed out undocumented immigrants who are charged with human trafficking and other violent crimes. They argue that by helping the Trump administration to fulfill their stated goal of deporting criminals, that will protect others.
“If turning over one or two bad apples keeps thousands safe, it seems to be a no-brainer for me,” Lopez said.
It is a proposal opposed by those protesting in Pilsen, including 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez.
“It’s unconscionable that we have members of the city council that are taking steps to, quote unquote, collaborate with the Trump Administration,” Sigcho Lopez said.
Pro-immigration activists are not done yet. A much larger scale protest is being planned for January 20, set to coincide with President Trump taking office.
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
