CHICAGO (WLS) — Federal agents in Chicago and other cities across the country arrested immigrants by the hundreds.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said 956 people were arrested in operations nationwide just Sunday.
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It is not specified how many out of the 956 arrests took place in the Chicago region, but ICE has verified the initiation of what they refer to as “targeted operations” in Chicago.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul appeared on CNN This Morning after ICE began carrying out operations in Chicago and the suburbs.
“I believe this will negatively impact our economy and the stability of our community,” expressed Raoul. “These individuals contribute, pay taxes, and are integral members of our community here in Chicago and across the country.”
Cell phone video captured agents believed to be immigration officials in Albany Park and Berwyn over the weekend.
One woman said her father, who had been in the U.S. for nearly 30 years, was arrested at his home in Waukegan.
“They opened the door thinking one of us might be in trouble or needed help,” shared Yelitza Marquina, a resident of Waukegan. “Never did they expect to encounter ICE.”
One man who did not want to be identified said his neighbor was arrested on the Far South Side near 99th Street and Commercial Avenue.
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“Give these people a chance, because they are like me,” the neighbor said. “They want a better life for their family. That’s why they come to this country. This country was founded on immigrants.”
Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan says for now, they are focusing on criminals with arrest warrants and deportation orders.
Some people worry collaterals will be detained in the roundups. They are people who are not the intended target, but just so happen to live or are interacting with wanted individuals.
“The fear is that they will detain other people around them, maybe that live there or maybe that just happen to interact with them. And that’s why it’s important that folks know their rights and that they don’t have to answer any questions,” said Erendira Rendón with the Resurrection Project.
The sweeping effort has been felt in the city and the suburbs, and the atmosphere of the raids and rumors of raids is having chilling effect in some areas.
Laura Gutierrez told ABC7 that the Little Village community is hurting.
“We are not seeing people from our community. We are not seeing locals,” said Laura Gutierrez.
Gutierrez, the owner of Nuevo León restaurant, says business is down 60%.
“It’s heartbreaking, because Little Village, we are one. We stand with them; we are nothing without them. Little Village is everybody who lives here,” Gutierrez said.
Las Comales, another restaurant along 26th Street, is seeing more drive-thru and deliveries.
Christina Gonzalez says the slow down in business is impacting workers and their families.
“You are talking about hundreds of families. It’s not just families. It’s multigenerational families,” Gonzalez said.
Business owners have been encouraging people to show support for the community by coming to Little Village to eat and shop to make up for those workers and patrons who are fearful and staying home.
And while Mayor Brandon Johnson says Chicago police have not been involved in ICE’s efforts, the Trump administration has also warned state and city officials to not interfere with the immigration crackdown.
“I don’t react to intimidation tactics,” Raoul said. “I have no intent with interfering with legal immigration enforcement processes, what is clear In Illinois is we have a trust act that state local and state resources cannot be used for such.”
Homan on ABC’s “This Week” pointed the finger at sanctuary cities, including Chicago.
“Sanctuary cities lock us out of the jails. So instead of ICE being able to arrest the bad guy, that the criminal alien in the safety and security of a jail, where the officers are safe, the alien is safe, the public safe, sanctuary cities release him back in the community,” Homan said.
Homan also acknowledged there may be arrests of people with no criminal background, particularly in sanctuary cities.
“When we find him, he’s going to be with others. Most likely, many times you’re with others in a country illegally. They’re coming too,” Homan said.
Trump has been critical of Chicago’s status as a sanctuary city.
Several immigrant advocacy groups in Chicago are suing the Trump administration and ICE.
The groups filing the federal lawsuit say the raids are retaliatory in nature.
An ICE spokesperson told ABC7 they do not comment on ongoing litigation.
Gov. JB Pritzker, who appeared on CNN Sunday, agreed that there is no place for violent criminals who have been convicted and are undocumented. But he says the distinction must be made between criminals and law-abiding undocumented immigrants.
“Why are we going after them? These are not people who are causing problems in our country, and what we need is a path to citizenship for them. We need to secure our border. We need to get rid of the violent criminals, but we also need to protect people, at least the residents of Illinois and all across the nation, who are Just doing what we hope that immigrants will do,” Pritzker said.
Johnson issued a statement later Sunday, saying, “There have been confirmed reports of ICE enforcement activity in Chicago today, Sunday, January 26. Per City code, Chicago police were not involved in this immigration enforcement activity. My team and I are in close communication with City officials including the CPD. It is imperative that all Chicagoans know their constitutional rights and share the Know Your Rights guidance with their neighbors and community.”
Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth released a joint statement on Sunday night, saying, in part, “We stand with the immigrant community in Chicago and across the country, and our offices and caseworkers are ready to help those who are improperly caught up in these raids.”
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