With the incoming Trump administration set to prioritize mass deportations, Illinois officials and activists are preparing to push back against the new border czar's plans for the city of Chicago. According to WGN-TV, Tom Homan, designated as Trump's 'border czar', has proclaimed that mass deportations will "start right here" in Chicago.
Homan's declaration was met with disapproval from those at the helm in Illinois, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker, described by Homan as problematic leaders. Brushing off Homan's comments, a spokesperson for the governor stated, "Rather than responding to every ridiculous boast from Trump lackeys, Governor Pritzker is focused on what he was focused on during the first Trump term: leading our state with competence instead of chaos.," in a statement obtained by WGN-TV.
Local efforts are ramping up in response to the promised federal actions. Fred Tsao from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) expressed his concern about the impacts on families and communities. As reported by ABC7 Chicago, Tsao said, "We are talking about disrupting households. We're talking about disrupting communities. We're talking about disrupting local economies." ICIRR is currently working to educate immigrants on their rights through a series of presentations.
Highlighting the importance of these rights, Tsao reminded Chicagoans in a statement obtained by ABC7 Chicago, "We have the right to be safe in our homes, and to require a warrant if law enforcement wants to come in. We have the right to remain silent." These preparations come alongside Alderman Ray Lopez's remarks suggesting a reevaluation of Chicago's sanctuary status for individuals who engage in criminal activities after arriving in the city.
The debate continues over local law enforcement's role in potential mass deportations, with the Cook County Sheriff's Office's Matt Walberg noting the current restrictions on federal duties imposed by local ordinance and state law. With more than 51,600 migrants arriving in Chicago since August 2022, as shared by WGN-TV, the city grapples with the possible legal and social ramifications of the incoming administration's immigration policies.
Meanwhile, Illinois Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth have joined other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in calling on President Joe Biden to protect immigrant families from mass deportations. Arguing against such actions, they said, "Mass deportations would jeopardize the safety and security of millions of mixed-status families, sow deep distrust and fear in the communities we represent, and destabilize the US economy," according to a statement highlighted by WGN-TV. As the controversy unfolds, legal experts predict that the issue of federal access to Chicago-area jails could well end up in court.
