By Lorena Mendez
@redlineproject
AI disclosure: Perplexity and Gemini were used to outline a segment of this paper and for research. ChatGPT was used for image generation, and Sora was used for image generation. Notebook LM and Nota were used to summarize and provide an FAQ at the end.
Summary: The Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement policies in Chicago under border czar Tom Homan. Immigrants worry about ICE raids and being arrested unexpectedly, with the intensity of Operation Safeguard. Ald. Raymond Lopez calls for revising the city’s welcoming policy. The potential economic impact of large-scale deportations is also discussed. Despite fear and uncertainty, many in the community continue to show strength and determination in dealing with these challenges.
Ald. Raymond Lopez’s 15th Ward, which includes Back of the Yards, is one of the most diverse Latino populations since the influx of migrants in 2022. With ICE raids increasing in the city, residents in his ward are becoming concerned.
“We shouldn’t demonize how people get here,” Lopez said.
The definition of a sanctuary city is purely subjective, depending on who you ask. Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance has seen a few changes since it was enacted in 2012, stemming from earlier executive orders issued by Mayor Harold Washington back in 1985. The ordinance is a policy that is generally inclusive and encompasses various policies aimed at supporting community resources that aren’t just about immigration enforcement.
Chicago’s sanctuary city status, which has been in place for years, was implemented to ensure that residents in the city weren’t targeted simply because of their immigration status. Thus, it bars local authorities like the Chicago Police Department from cooperating with federal authorities.
With the new administration led by Donald Trump, many sanctuary cities like Chicago have to deal with the uncertainty of ICE officials targeting people and neighborhoods that are deemed predominantly Hispanic or Latino. The targets are not just the city’s residents, but also the leadership pushing back on Trump and his policies.
Lopez has long advocated for changing the city’s Welcoming City Ordinance. He, along with Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward) brought the ordinance up for a vote to amend it. Although their attempts failed with the City Council voting against the change, Lopez said he believed that making the amendment would help protect residents in his ward.
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Appointed border czar Tom Homan, whose latest role was acting director of ICE under Trump back in his first term. Homan told members of the GOP that mass deportations would kick off in Chicago, while simultaneously threatening to prosecute local officials who stand in the way of deportation efforts.
ICE’s Operation Safeguard is to be conducted in Chicago, with the expectation of large-scale deportations. Homan labels “collateral arrests” will result in the mass scale of their operation, giving us a sense of its extensive and rampant nature. Trump wants to make good on his promise.
But what is the game plan for ensuring deportations are enacted swiftly and accurately? There is no doubt that law-abiding undocumented immigrants will be rounded up with violent criminals. There is already so much mistrust between the Trump administration that not even ICE can make guarantees that they will precisely detain only violent criminals.
Lopez sees these collateral arrests as unnecessary. “Some people are getting caught in the crosshairs,” he said, but believes violent criminals should be a top priority when ICE raids are taking place.
Lopez says that one of his priorities is to keep Homan and federal officials out of the 15th ward. He feels that keeping that open line of communication and the amendment of the Welcoming City Ordinance will benefit his constituents in the long run.
Additionally, Lopez encourages politicians from both sides of the aisle to stop with the “political theater” and community organizations contributing to the “false hysteria”.
In light of the misunderstanding at Hamline Elementary School in Back of the Yards earlier this year, Lopez said he believes there is too much miscommunication and, most importantly, too much misinformation being spread to his constituents.
Therefore, Lopez is encouraging the city’s administration to work with Trump and Homan since he believes it would keep federal agencies out of the 15th Ward. “When a non-citizen is in custody, we force ICE and Homeland Security to go into these communities,” he said.
There are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, with Chicago being the home to approximately 2 million of them. Being a place with a sizeable immigrant community, residents have come to grapple with the reality of targeted ICE raids.
These neighborhoods are changing on multiple fronts, from declining business sales in places like Little Village and Back of the Yards. With increased reports of sightings of ICE agents, many people are opting out of leaving their homes in fear of being profiled and ultimately being detained. Communities such as these depend on other microcosmic economies that keep many small family-owned businesses afloat.
It will only make sense that people who live in these communities feel uncertain when they step out of their front door, even though there have been reassurances that the Welcoming City Ordinance will stay as is, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Lifelong resident of Chicago’s South Side, Ixchel Bautista, who also holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago, said her daily interactions have changed since the escalated presence of ICE in her community.
“[Fear] is more pronounced during the Trump administration’s threats of raids, impacting many local communities,” Bautista said. “ Ring notifications increased, alerting the community about potential ICE activities.”
Bautista described the foot traffic in Pilsen businesses as “down” when the threats started from Trump and Homan.
“While there were still workers present, the clientele was lower due to fear of the raids,” Bautista said.
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Much of the workforce in local restaurants is undocumented employees who are often paid cheap wages to offset certain costs. Restaurant owners in these neighborhoods anticipate increasing prices due to the staffing changes that would make the cost of food that much more expensive. So, eliminating the undocumented workforce would force restaurant owners to hire documented workers, resulting in higher wages.
A report released by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy in 2024 found that Illinois earned $1.5 billion in tax revenue from undocumented immigrants in 2022. If Homan and Trump get their way with the ICE raids, this could mean many issues for the financial landscape of Chicago and the state.
Despite all the increased challenges that Bautista and her community face, she remained optimistic about Chicago’s future.
“I hope that the city can remain strong during the next four years,” she said. “Hopefully, the city can be an example for others [cities] who are thinking about sanctuary city status and looking at [Chicago] as a pillar.”
According to a study conducted by the American Immigration Council in 2024, it would cost the United States government an estimated total of $315 billion to deport all undocumented immigrants from the U.S. So, what is the solution? It is a question that many people in politics have been trying to figure out for years.
The full effects of these deportations has yet to be seen. For now, it’s just a waiting game for many people, not just in Chicago, but around the country, who can find themselves in the grips of the Trump administration.
What is the path forward for Chicago in these four years left in the Trump administration? Lopez offered a grim reminder of what Chicago has yet to face.
“There is no path forward,” he said.
FAQ: Chicago’s Sanctuary City Ordinance
Q1: What is Chicago’s sanctuary city status, and what does it entail?
Chicago operates under a “Welcoming City Ordinance,” the roots of which trace back to policies initiated by Mayor Harold Washington in 1985 and formalized in an ordinance in 2012. This policy, which has undergone some changes since its inception, aims to ensure that residents are not targeted by local authorities, such as the Chicago Police Department (CPD), solely based on their immigration status. Consequently, the ordinance generally prohibits local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities like ICE in enforcement actions. However, it is important to note that the definition and scope of “sanctuary city” status can be subjective.
Q2: Why is there current concern about immigration enforcement in Chicago?
With the return of the Trump administration, there is heightened concern that federal immigration authorities, specifically ICE, will intensify enforcement efforts in cities like Chicago that have sanctuary policies. Trump’s appointed border czar, Tom Homan, has explicitly stated intentions to conduct large-scale deportations in Chicago under an operation named “Operation Safeguard.” Furthermore, there have been threats to prosecute local officials who impede these deportation efforts, creating an environment of uncertainty and fear for immigrant communities.
Q3: What are “collateral arrest,” and why is it a point of contention?
“Collateral arrests,” as described in the context of ICE operations, refer to the apprehension of individuals who may be present during an enforcement action but are not the primary targets. Critics, like Alderman Raymond Lopez, express concern that these broad enforcement tactics will inevitably lead to the detention and deportation of law-abiding undocumented immigrants alongside those with criminal records. This approach is seen as indiscriminate and unjust, potentially disrupting families and communities unnecessarily.
Q4: What is Ald. Raymond Lopez’s stance on Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance and why?
Ald. Raymond Lopez of the 15th Ward has been a vocal advocate for amending Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance. Representing a diverse Latino community that has seen a significant influx of migrants, Lopez believes that modifying the ordinance would better protect his constituents. He and Alderman Silvana Tabares attempted to bring the ordinance up for a vote to make changes, though these efforts were unsuccessful. Lopez’s rationale stems from a desire to prioritize the apprehension of violent criminals while minimizing the risk of collateral arrests that impact law-abiding undocumented residents.
Q5: How are increased ICE activity threats affecting Chicago immigrant communities?
The heightened threat of ICE raids is having a tangible impact on immigrant communities in Chicago. Residents report increased anxiety and fear, leading some to avoid leaving their homes. Businesses in predominantly immigrant neighborhoods, such as Little Village and Back of the Yards, are experiencing declining sales, likely due to residents’ fear of being profiled and detained. Additionally, there are concerns about potential labor shortages in sectors like restaurants, which could lead to increased prices for consumers. Community networks are also seeing increased activity, such as more frequent “ring notifications” alerting residents to potential ICE presence.
Q6: What are the potential economic consequences of mass deportations?
Deporting all undocumented immigrants from the United States is estimated to cost the government a staggering $315 billion, according to a 2024 study by the American Immigration Council. In Chicago specifically, the removal of a significant portion of the undocumented workforce could have detrimental effects on various industries, potentially leading to higher labor costs and increased prices for goods and services. The decline in business activity in immigrant neighborhoods due to fear of raids also indicates a negative economic impact on local economies.
Q7: What is the perspective of residents living in Chicago’s immigrant communities?
Residents like Ixchel Bautista, a lifelong resident of Chicago’s South Side, describe a palpable increase in fear within their communities due to the escalated presence and threats of ICE. Daily interactions have changed, with heightened vigilance and anxiety about potential enforcement actions. Despite these challenges, there is still a sense of hope that Chicago can remain a supportive environment for immigrants and serve as an example for other cities considering similar policies.
Q8: What does Alderman Lopez suggest as a path forward for Chicago regarding immigration enforcement under the Trump administration?
Despite acknowledging the significant challenges ahead, Alderman Lopez advocates for a pragmatic approach. He encourages city officials to communicate and cooperate with the Trump administration and border czar Tom Homan, believing that maintaining open lines of communication could help keep federal agencies out of his ward. He also urges an end to what he perceives as “political theater” and the spread of “false hysteria,” emphasizing the need for accurate information and a focus on prioritizing the removal of violent criminals while protecting law-abiding residents. However, when directly asked about a path forward, Lopez said, “There is no path forward,” suggesting a sense of inevitability regarding increased federal enforcement.