Dozens of tenants in South Shore building immigration agents raided being evicted

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Dozens of tenants in the Chicago building that became infamous after a raid by federal agents say they are being evicted after enduring the raid and what they call unlivable conditions.

A board-up crew at 7500 S. South Shore Drive was a surprise to tenants Tuesday morning.

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They say it was also a surprise to see an eviction notice posted in the building the day before Thanksgiving.

"It's bad. We're being treated like this and we did nothing wrong. We don't deserve this. That ain't right. That ain't right," tenant Travaris Ivy said.

Tenants said, despite forming a union, there is still no heat, no electricity, no elevator and no help finding other places to live.

Someone shared photos of inside the building last week.

"I have never been through anything like this in my life. I'm a good tenant. I work; this is bad," Samantha Stamps said.

"There are elders in the building. There are disabled people in the building. There are people in wheelchairs in the building. How are they going to move if the elevators don't work?" said Infiniti Gant, with Southside Together.

The building got international attention after an immigration raid by Customs and Border Protection agents Sept. 30.

The Trump administration released a highly produced video of the raid, and claims agents were going after alleged criminals inside in the building.

"Because of the ICE raid, there is literally garbage all in these empty apartments. If you all was in there you could smell the trash that left in there vacant apartments," Ivy said.

"What happened at that building was abominable. I talked about it many, many times. So the tenants of that building are deserving of attention for the concerns that they have," Gov. JB Pritzker said.

Organizers said they are trying to get tenant information to the mayor's office to help expedite placements for tenants.

"My administration is working overtime with the organizers of these tenants to ensure that they have a place of comfort and a place where they can afford and feel good about," Mayor Brandon Johnson said.

Two weeks ago a judge appointed a receiver for the building after financial problems with the owner.

ABC7 Chicago has attempted to get information about plans for the building and tenants from the receiver, but has not gotten any response.

Whatever help may be coming for the people still living here, the tenants will be moving, as temperatures are dropping.