Chicago blocks proposal that would allow law enforcement to cooperate with ICE to target criminal immigrants

The Chicago City Council on Wednesday blocked a proposal that would have allowed local authorities to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain immigrants with criminal records.

Chicago’s “welcoming city” ordinance, in compliance with the Illinois Trust Act of 2017, prohibits local authorities from participating in federal immigration law enforcement.

Ald Ray López and Silvana Tabares wanted to change the ordinance to allow police to cooperate with ICE to target immigrants. who had been arrested for gang or drug-related activities or sexual crimes involving minors. His move received negative reactions from activist groups when They introduced the measure for the first time in 2023.

the two officials saw your proposal amendment be struck down by a vote of 39 to 11.

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Before Chicago officials rejected the proposed amendment, Jordan Kelly, a member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and a resident of the 30th Ward, spoke out against López and Tabares proposed amendment.

“Self-hating cowards like Ray Lopez and Tabares want to turn our city into a hell for immigrants, who, by the way, are not just Latinos. CAIR Chicago currently has between 40 and 50 open asylum cases. What do you think? Do we tell these people and families if we don’t remain a sanctuary? Furthermore, our economy cannot support mass deportations,” Kelly said.

Immigration has been a hot topic in the Windy City, as officials have had to deal with a surge of immigrants in recent years. Many Chicago residents They are frustrated with city officials, particularly Mayor Brandon Johnson and his handling of the situation.

One resident who spoke at Wednesday’s city council meeting sharply criticized Johnson.

“Who are you loyal to? The American citizens in Chicago or the illegal immigrants in Chicago?” the man said. “The sanctuary law that Brandon Johnson allowed has attracted criminals, drug dealers and now terrorists.”

The vote to block the measure came after Johnson last week. issued new guidelines ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Johnson’s guidelines advise that if ICE enters city property, “contact your agency or department’s designated general counsel or counsel for further guidance. Contact the highest-ranking official or designated supervisor on site and take no action.” until that person arrives.”

The guidance advises officials to demand copies of court orders, not to consent to ICE entering “any private or ‘sensitive’ location,” but not to interfere with any search, even if they refuse. There are other recommendations, such as taking notes and keeping contemporaneous written records.

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In response to the mayor’s directives, Lopez said Johnson is making an “extraordinary effort” to stop his proposal to expel immigrants with criminal records.

“In fact, I am surprised that the mayor is making this extraordinary effort to try to stop what Councilman Tabares and I want to do, which is eliminate the small number of people who choose to commit crimes in the city of Chicago. ” López López said FOX 32Chicago. “The narrative from the mayor and his allies is that we are trying to remove everyone, but that is simply not the case.”

The election of Trump’s border czarTom Homan vowed to pursue Chicago with strict enforcement, promising to check the status of asylum seekers and arrest anyone who harbors illegal immigrants.

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The incoming border tsar also warned that Johnson would be prosecuted if he obstructed ICE’s mass deportation efforts.

López nor Tabares did not immediately respond to a request for comment.