'We're not going to war' with Chicago, Trump says, after sharing ominous meme
Aurora hosts Mexican Independence Day Parade; Anti-immigration enforcement protest held in Downers Grove
CHICAGO (WLS) -- President Donald Trump was adamant with reporters on Sunday that "we're not going to war" with Chicago, after he shared a post on Saturday with a caption that reads, "Chicago about to find out why it's called the Department of WAR."
"We're not going to war. We're going to clean up our cities," Trump said. "We're going to clear them up so they don't kill every five people every weekend. That's not war. That's common sense."
The White House "Border Czar" says Chicago should expect a surge of immigration enforcement actions this week, and he says the use of National Guard troops to protect and support those operations is "on the table".
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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson pushed back against Trump after the president re-shared an image that places him in front of Chicago and insinuated he was going to take action against the city.
Pritzker slammed Trump and said that the president threatened to go to war with the city by posting the memes.
"This is not normal. Donald Trump isn't a strongman, he's a scared man. Illinois won't be intimidated by a wannabe dictator," Pritzker wrote in an X post.
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Johnson echoed the governor's sentiment, saying the president's "threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution."
"We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump," the mayor wrote in an X post.
Video provided to ABC7 Chicago on Sunday showed federal agents, wearing badges that say "ICE," arresting a man near Archer and Pulaski in Archer Heights, who neighbors say is a flower vendor.
Messages left by ABC7 for a DHS spokesperson regarding the arrest were not returned.
Later Sunday evening, Alderwoman Jeylú Gutiérrez released a statement, saying "At least 5 individuals have been confirmed detained" on the Southwest Side.
"You can expect action in most sanctuary cities across the country," White House 'Border Czar" Tom Homan said. "President Trump has prioritized sanctuary cities because sanctuary cities knowingly release illegal alien public safety threats to the streets every day."
Fencing was seen going around the federal courthouse in Chicago, in anticipation of the enforcement actions occurring, according to city officials.
A White House spokeswoman criticized Illinois leaders in a statement, citing Chicago's murders during the Labor Day weekend.
"Local Democrat leaders are more upset about a post from the President - that tells you everything you need to know about the Democrats' twisted priorities," Abigail Jackson, White House spokeswoman, said in a statement to ABC News.
The back-and-forth between Trump and Chicago Democrats has increased over the last week as the president has vowed to step up federal enforcement of crimes and immigration enforcement, including by deploying the National Guard.
"We could solve Chicago very quickly, but we're going to make a decision as to where we go over the next day or two," Trump said.
City and state officials have said they will immediately go to court if National Guard troops are deployed to Chicago.
"The president of the United States essentially just declared war on a major city in his own nation," Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth said. "This is not normal."
Pritzker warned that there has been a surge in ICE agents in the city and that there could be as many as 300 ICE agents this weekend, according to local officials.
How communities are responding
In response to the possibility of added ICE enforcement, city officials from neighboring communities say they are bracing for the increase of agents in communities, according to Gregory Jackson, who serves as the Chief of Staff in North Chicago, Illinois. Agents and officials are expected to operate out of the Great Lakes Naval Station for about 30 days, he said.
Chicago-area residents are responding to the anticipated ICE operations with protest, as well. A group of anti-immigration enforcement demonstrators gathered at a west suburban hotel on Sunday afternoon.
"ICE has got to go," protester Kim Lewis said. "We are are a country united, and we are a melting pot still."
The protest took place outside the Hampton Inn & Suites Downers Grove Chicago, located at 1500 Opus Place.
"Whether you're an American or whether you're not, you have a right to due process and human rights," protester Casey Caballero said.
A downtown rally and march was held Saturday evening. A large crowd gathered at Michigan and Ida B. Wells before marching up Michigan Avenue. More protests continued north of Chicago on Saturday as well, with a group gathering near the Naval Station Great Lakes.
There is an effort across many communities in Chicago to try and educate people as much as possible on how to deal with potential ICE raids.
The governor and mayor have discussed the importance of people knowing their rights. Sunday night in Hermosa, there was an event predicated around that.
As President Trump's administration plans to ramp up DHS operations locally, many non-profit organizations are trying to find ways to help.
"We have a lot of artists and activists in the community that wanted to do something so for us it's only natural," said Omar Torres-Cortright, executive director of SRBCC. "The community here is concerned and we need more of these gatherings of people coming together."
The volunteer collective of local arts presenters and advocates hosted an event in Hermosa, showcasing native music and dance performances, while drumming up funds for legal expenses from ICE detentions and prosecutions. They've already raised more than $46,000
"We're trying to show the whole breath of what positive people want to do and really support people who are most directly affected right now," Marguerite Horberg said.
The event also offered education for residents on how to handle potential ICE raids as they stress the importance of knowing their rights.
"We are not just putting together a show we have know your rights information we have lawyers in the house that can give information to people," Torres-Cortright. "It's all about having a common goal and doing great work."
A little further north of that event, the Tenants Union FIBC held their own fundraiser with the same goal in mind. They hosted a block party near Broadway Avenue, selling plates of homemade food to raise money for family members recently detained by ICE.
"We know it's a really tough time and we're trying to have something ready in case more of the family members have trouble," Maya Azul said.
So the effort continues locally as many wait to see exactly how DHS operations will unfold in coming days. People across the city have also been handing out flyers to make sure everyone understands what to do if federal agents come to their neighborhood.
El Grito Chicago, the city's festival for Mexican Independence Day, postponed the event scheduled for next weekend citing ICE activity.
"It was a painful decision, but holding El Grito Chicago at this time puts the safety of our community at stake - and that's a risk we are unwilling to take," the event posted on its website.
Trump has repeatedly singled out Chicago as he has mulled sending the Guard to other major American cities following his federal takeover of Washington. Trump has said he preferred that cities ask for his administration's assistance.
Pritzker has pushed back on the Trump administration's involvement in Chicago, saying "I will not call the president, asking him to send troops to Chicago. I've made that clear already," Pritzker said.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told ABC News that the enforcement is targeting the "worst of the worst" criminals.
"It is no surprise that these criminals flock to sanctuary cities where politicians protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets putting American lives at risk," the spokespersons said. "DHS will go to wherever these criminal illegal aliens are -- including Chicago, Boston and other cities. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, nowhere is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return."
Aurora hosts Mexican Independence Day Parade despite immigration enforcement fears
It was a day of celebration in Aurora on Sunday, albeit a muted one. Following a six-year hiatus, Aurora's Mexican Independence Day Parade went forward - without the turnout organizers would have liked - in a city where four out of 10 people identify as Hispanic or Latino.
The music, the colors and the vibrancy that makes up Mexican culture was on full display in downtown Aurora. The city welcomed back the traditional Fiestas Patrias celebrations for the first time since before the pandemic.
"I came here when I was eight years old," spectator Gabriela Donatlan-Williams said. "And I'm American and Mexican, but I'm very proud of our Mexico."
And yet for all its folklore, it was a parade which at times appeared to have more people participating in it, than watching it.
"It was disheartening, seeing how many people have just been afraid to show up today," spectator Alexa Pennell said.
Taking place under the specter of an anticipated large-scale immigration enforcement operation starting this week, organizers admitted people have been staying home, not just Sunday, but during Saturday's festival as well, where the turnout was estimated to be a quarter of what they usually get.
Aurora's new mayor, John Laesch, admitted it's been challenging to straddle the line between encouraging people to celebrate, while also wanting to keep the community safe.
"I think the people that came out and participated had a good time. And that was the main thing," Laesch said. 'Having this event is one way of saying we want people to celebrate and continue to be part of a culture and history that is now a fabric of Aurora. But as far as offering people false hope, false sense of security we're just not going to do that."
For those who did choose to attend, the parade was an affirmation.
"As much as we're Latino, we're American," spectator Jeremiah Pennell said. We belong here and you know, we won't be put in a corner, we won't be made to be afraid."
The question now is, with Chicago's traditionally massive Little Village Celebration coming up in a week, will that same fear translate into reduced crowds?
ABC News contributed to this report.
