A sign regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is displayed in the window of a convenience store on President Trump’s Inauguration Day, Monday, Jan. 20, in Chicago’s predominantly Latino Little Village neighborhood.
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Erin Hooley/AP
President Trump wasted no time after being sworn in to declare a state of national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border.
But many of the new administration’s most disruptive immigration enforcement measures will likely take place hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away.
Over the weekend, plans were disclosed that some immigrants living in Chicago without legal status would be among the first to be targeted. The city of about 2.6 million people has attracted national attention over the past two years, as some 50,000 migrant arrivals, mostly Venezuelans, have tested the city’s response capacity. the city. The number of arrivals has fallen sharply.
Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan said the plan to start in Chicago was being reconsidered after the leak.
Still, immigrant rights activists are working to educate local immigrant residents about their legal rights if they are detained or questioned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Chicago and Illinois laws prevent local law enforcement from asking questions about a person’s immigration status, detaining them because they lack status, and, most notably, to prohibit agents from cooperating with federal agents. There is an exception if ICE agents are searching for people who are the subject of federal criminal warrants.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson attends a news conference at Chicago City Hall, Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told NPR’s A Martínez that it’s his job to protect residents “whether you’re undocumented, seeking asylum or looking for a good-paying job.”
“We’re going to fight and stand up for workers. This is what Chicago is known for,” Johnson said. “We’re going to continue to do this no matter who sits in the White House.”
Johnson spoke to Morning edition to discuss how his city is preparing for these enforcement measures and how local laws work.
To Martínez: Mayor, do you know why Chicago would have been singled out?
Brandon Johnson: First of all, I’m grateful that the city of Chicago has an incredible love story, one that our city is very proud of. It is a town that was founded by a black Haitian immigrant, as well as a Pottawattamie woman. And it’s a city that was built, again, by immigrants, migrants, asylum seekers, indigenous people, descendants of slaves. As Mayor of the City of Chicago, I reaffirmed our commitment to being a sanctuary city, also pledging to uphold the Illinois Trust Act as a sanctuary state to ensure the rights of all residents. And we serve the interests of the workers of this beloved city every day.
Martínez: Now, how is Chicago preparing for the possibility that mass deportation raids could begin today?
Johnson: As a welcoming city and a sanctuary city, we are firm that our police department will not intervene or participate in any way as federal agents. None of our sister agencies or municipal departments will cooperate or intervene in any way.
Martínez: But can you stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement?
Johnson: If they come with mandates, if they come with their authority – no, we will not intervene or support in any way. But what I can say is that we have worked with community organizations and other stakeholders to make sure Chicagoans know their rights. And that’s the most important part here. People can continue to go to work, they can go to school, they can use our public facilities without fear that local police departments will give access to these federal agents to disrupt traffic and what we’re doing in Chicago.
Martinez: Mayor, I know you have issued guidelines on how to handle ICE visits if they enter city property. One thing in particular caught my attention. It says city employees must not consent to ICE entering “private or sensitive locations.” What are private and sensitive places?
Johnson: We know that many of our newcomers and undocumented families rely on the faith community and other community organizations. They are looking for health care. They are looking for access to childcare services. We assure the residents of this city that we will protect their rights. And that’s what I’ve been charged with doing as mayor of Chicago. And that includes the rights to education. As the president has made very clear, he does not believe in public accommodations. He wants to close the Department of Education. He doesn’t believe in climate change. Any rights that the people of Chicago deserve, as Mayor of the City of Chicago, I will protect them. Whether you are undocumented, seeking asylum, or looking for a good-paying job, we will fight and defend workers. This is what Chicago is known for. We will continue to do this, regardless of who sits in the White House.
Martínez: Does that mean you would try to stop ICE by not consenting? Is this fair to interpret?
Johnson: The law that we passed in Chicago, our Host City Ordinance, along with the Illinois Trust Act, gives us the authority to ensure that in sensitive places and public places, these people have rights. We will ensure that these rights are protected.
Martínez: I wonder if you’ve spoken to other mayors, perhaps comparing notes on how to proceed in this area?
Johnson: I was just in Washington with the United States Conference of Mayors. And I talked to the mayor of Denver, the mayor of Atlanta. And there are certainly mayors who live in red states and understand that their economies are run by undocumented individuals. And whether you’re in St. Louis, Kansas City, Baltimore or anywhere else in the country, the contribution of undocumented and immigrant families to our economy is very clear.
Martinez: If these searches were to focus on people with criminal convictions, would you support this?
Johnson: These individuals would be subject to the law. Federal law provides for this type of investigation. Remember, this happened under previous administrations. Whether it’s President Obama or President Biden, this is nothing new. I think what President Trump is trying to do is create hyperbolic fear and tension in this country. And that’s not what we need right now. We need someone who will commit to standing up for workers. This is what I’m doing in Chicago: building more affordable housing, creating opportunities for our youth, providing better access to health care, especially behavioral mental health care. And all these investments have reduced crime in our city.
This is how we build a better, stronger city, and this is how we deliver a more inclusive economy. That’s what the president should be focusing on right now.
This article was edited by Treye Green.
