The Chicago City Council on Wednesday rejected a proposal that would have allowed local law enforcement to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in detaining immigrants with criminal records.
Chicago’s “Welcoming City” ordinance complies with the 2017 Illinois Trust Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration enforcement.
Ald Ray Lopez and Silvana Tabares want to amend the statute to allow police to work with ICE to target people arrested for gang or drug-related activity or involving minors. Immigrants arrested for sex crimes. When they first introduced the measure in 2023, they faced fierce opposition from activist groups.
The amendment proposed by the two officials was defeated by 39 votes to 11.
Chicago faith leaders brace for mass evictions, halt in-person Spanish-language services: report
Jordan, a Chicago resident, slammed a proposed amendment to the city's ordinance that would prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE.
Before Chicago officials rejected the proposed amendment, 30th Ward resident Jordan Kelly, a member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, spoke out against the amendment proposed by Lopez and Tabarez.
“By the way, self-hating cowards like Ray Lopez and Tabarez want to turn our city into a hellhole for immigrants, and not just Latino immigrants. CAIR Chicago currently has 40-50 Open asylum cases. What do we tell these people and families if we don't continue to be a shelter? Also, our economy can't handle mass deportations," Kelly said.
Immigration has always been a hot-button issue in the Windy City, where officials have had to deal with a surge over the past few years. Many Chicago residents are frustrated with city officials, especially Mayor Brandon Johnson and his handling of the situation.
A resident who spoke at a city council meeting on Wednesday slammed Johnson
"Who are you loyal to? The American citizens of Chicago or the illegal immigrants in Chicago?" the man said. “The sanctuary laws that Brandon Johnson allowed brought in criminals, drug dealers, and now terrorists.”
A resident has slammed Mayor Brandon Johnson for turning the city into a "sanctuary" for illegal immigrants.
Johnson voted last week to block the measure New guidelines issued before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Johnson's guidance advises that if ICE should enter city property, "please contact your agency or department's designated attorney or general counsel for further guidance. Contact the highest-ranking official on scene or designated supervisor and do not take any action until that person arrives." action."
The guidance advises officers to ask for a copy of the search warrant and not to give ICE access to "any private or 'sensitive' location," but not to interfere with any search even if denied. There are other suggestions, such as taking notes and keeping written records of the same period.
Chicago dismantles largest homeless encampment, relocating tent residents to apartments, shelters: report
In response to the mayor's guidelines, Lopez said Johnson was making an "extraordinary effort" to block his proposal to deport immigrants with criminal records.
"In fact, I'm amazed that the mayor is making such an extraordinary effort to try to stop what Ald. Tabares and I want to do, which is to purge the few people who choose to commit crime in the city of Chicago," Lopez told Fox Channel 32 Chicago. “The narrative from the mayor and his allies is that we’re trying to evict everyone — and that’s not the case.”
At a recent City Council meeting, Chicago residents voted on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new property tax increase proposal. (Reuters/Vincent Orban)
Trump's pick for border czarTom Homan promised tough enforcement to identify asylum seekers and arrest anyone offering asylum to illegal immigrants.
Click here to get the Fox News app
The incoming border czar also warned he would be prosecuted if Johnson stonewalled ICE’s mass deportations.
Neither Lopez nor Tabarez immediately responded to requests for comment.