Federal authorities have identified dozens of targets for deportation in Chicago area, sources say
Chicago immigrant community on edge over mass deportation fears with Trump inauguration
CHICAGO (WLS) -- President Donald Trump is now in control of the federal government, and he was elected, in part, on promises of the largest deportations in history beginning on day one.
Sources told ABC News over the weekend the first immigration raids would start right here in Chicago this week.
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Now, Chicago city leaders, federal agents, immigrant communities, and activists are starting to figure out what those raids could look like.
The Chicago resistance greeted the start a second Trump administration much like the first one, with a protest downtown.
But top Trump surrogates began burrowing into Chicago's Republican circle in December, promising at a holiday party to kickstart what he said would be the "largest deportation operation in history."
"All that starts January 21, and we're going to start right here in Chicago, Illinois," Trump's border czar Tom Homan said.
Sources told ABC News that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were planning a raid of sorts right out of the gates. Homan has waffled on those plans in recent days.
RELATED | Trump administration 'reviewing' Chicago immigration raid plans after reports, Homan says
ABC7 Police Affairs Consultant Bill Kushner warned that this may not be some grand show of force, like one 2007 ICE raid in Little Village.
"They're not going to sweep everyone up and put them in a giant net. It's not going to be like fishing for shrimp. They're going very selective on who they arrest," Kushner said. "It's not a street corner sweep. Definitely not. It's going to be more targeted. I really believe that it's the only way they're going to accomplish the goal."
Two sources told the ABC7 I-Team that federal authorities have identified dozens of targets for deportation. Sources said all of those so-called targets are either in custody, on bond, or wanted by law enforcement.
Still, some Chicago city leaders say they are in the dark on any details of potential deportation plans.
"I know they would not let us know, so we want to make sure we're prepared," said Ald. Andre Vasquez.
READ MORE | Suburban school districts try to calm immigrant community's fears of mass deportations
Vasquez chairs the Chicago City Council Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, so he is warning migrants who could be in danger what to know and what to look for.
"In order for anything to occur, ICE would need a judicial warrant signed. If they don't have that information, stay calm, remain silent and reach out," Vasquez said.
Immigrant communities like Little Village have been on edge over deportation concerns as the new administration takes office.
Laura Gutierrez Ramos' father opened the neighborhood's Nuevo Leon Restaurant in 1977. She is now the second generation to run the popular place.
Gutierrez Ramos says for the first time in her 52 years, she is scared about mass deportations.
"People who have been under the radar, people who pay taxes, people who have not left country in 10, 20 30 years, who have nothing to go back to," Gutierrez Ramos said.
While the Trump administration says it will begin deporting criminals, Chicago residents are concerned about mass raids targeting undocumented working people and how it will affect the local economy.
"I don't see anybody coming in here, asking to be a dishwasher, who is not a Mexicano," Gutierrez Ramos said.
"The law is such that counties and the state and municipalities can no longer hold immigrants for immigration purposes and administrative custody. It's not a criminal issue," said Executive Director of the National Immigrant Justice Center Executive Director Mary Meg McCarthy.
Community groups have been spending the past few weeks educating people of their rights. Little Village Community Council's Baltazar Enriquez braved the cold temperatures to pass out flyers on 26th Street on Monday.
"Letting them know they have rights to stay quiet, don't say anything don't sign anything," Enriquez said.
On Sunday, priests on Chicago's Southwest Side held a Mass to stand in solidarity with local immigrants.
Community members filled the pews of Saint Rita of Cascia Parish in Chicago Lawn.
READ MORE | Pope Francis calls Trump's plans of mass deportation of immigrants 'a disgrace'
"Overall, there is a great concern and a great feat at the moment within the immigrant community and among us who have been for many, many years trying to support the immigrant community on a path to citizenship in this country," Father Larry Dowling, retired pastor of St. Simon of Cyrene Catholic Church.
Community leaders have also held know your rights workshops the last couple of days.
They are warning immigrant communities to stay at home and not answer the door.
Illinois public officials have been making residents aware that they are protected by the state law, unless they are a convicted criminal.
"I think the point for us is to make sure that our state, our city elected officials are working in a coordinated strategy to have resources and understand their jurisdiction," said Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez, who represents Illinois' 3rd District.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez reminded families all CPS schools are safe havens.
"I want our families to feel confident they can send their children to school we are not going to interact with ICE," Martinez said.
In a lengthy statement Monday, Chicago police said, in part, "The Chicago Police Department does not assist federal immigration authorities with enforcement action solely based on immigration status. Additionally, CPD does not document immigration status and does not share such information with federal authorities."
Chicago police ended that statement by making clear they will not intervene in immigration enforcement, but they will continue to enforce the law if a crime occurs, regardless of citizenship status.
That enforcement could be for something like a traffic violation, and that is what has people in the undocumented community on edge right now.
And on the other side of the border, Mexico is preparing for mass deportations from the United States.
The Mexican president announced a program on Monday to financially help deportees, especially people who have been in the U.S. for years and have no family left in Mexico.
Full CPD statement:
"In accordance with the City of Chicago's Municipal Code, which includes the Welcoming City Ordinance, the Chicago Police Department does not assist federal immigration authorities with enforcement action solely based on immigration status. Additionally, CPD does not document immigration status and does not share such information with federal authorities.
CPD is prohibited by the Welcoming City Ordinance from participating in civil immigration enforcement operations or assist in the civil enforcement of federal immigration law. CPD's Responding to Incidents Involving Citizenship Status policy also states that if the Department receives a request from an immigration agency to provide assistance with a civil immigration enforcement operation, a supervisor will respond to the scene. If the request is to assist in the enforcement of civil immigration law, the supervisor will decline the request. If the request is unrelated to civil immigration law, appropriate police action will be taken. The Responding to Incidents Involving Citizenship Status policy was recently revised to require a supervisor of higher rank (a Watch Operations Lieutenant or Street Deputy) respond to the scenes of these requests, in addition to the previously required supervisor from the district of occurrence.
To be clear, the Chicago Police Department will not assist or intervene in civil immigration enforcement in accordance with the City of Chicago Municipal Code. As always, we will continue to enforce the law if a crime occurs, regardless of the citizenship status of those involved."
SEE ALSO | Resources available to undocumented individuals who may be impacted by Trump's immigration plan
