Immigration advocates host 'know your rights' workshops for community amid mass deportation fears
CHICAGO (WLS) -- As part of President-elect Donald Trump's strategy to secure the border, Immigration and Customs Enforcement were expected to carry out post-inauguration raids as early as Tuesday, sources briefed on the plans told ABC News Saturday morning.
Incoming "border czar" Tom Homan told ABC News Saturday night that Trump's administration is now reviewing whether to begin the raids next week, in part due to the safety of immigration officers.
Despite the sudden move from Trump's team, city leaders are still preparing as fear among Chicago-area immigrants mounts.
Top officials within the Department of Homeland Security told ABC News Saturday morning that Chicago would "be a target area for the incoming administration."
Homan told ABC News later Saturday that the incoming administration is now "reviewing any plans in Chicago because of the leak," adding that news reports may have potentially put officer safety at risk.
This is a breaking news update. The video in the player above is from a previous report.
It was reported that ICE was likely to start in Chicago and could move on to other big cities, according to sources, who previously noted the plans could change. The agency has been ramping up its operations in anticipation of Trump's plan to carry out deportations, and the agency put out a request for ICE agents to volunteer to help with at least some of the operations, according to a source.
Agencies that fall under the Department of Homeland Security umbrella, such as Enforcement and Removal Operations, which handles deportations, and Homeland Security Investigations, have been put on "alert" by the incoming administration, officials with knowledge of the plan told ABC News.
Although field teams have not been given specific details about what next week will hold, federal agents assigned to the region were asked to prepare cases and operations that were "ready to go," the officials said.
The immigration raid plans were first reported by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, who cited multiple sources that say the incoming administration is planning a "large-scale immigration raid" in Chicago next week.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a raid in Chicago was expected to begin Tuesday morning, one day after President-elect Trump's inauguration. Their report added that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would send as many as 200 officers to carry the raid out.
The report comes amid rising concerns over the mass deportation plan that President-elect Trump's incoming border czar has promised to carry out. Homan appeared on Fox News Friday night and said there will be "a big raid all across the country."
Trump's campaign promise of mass deportations is what Homan is expected to fulfill, speaking just last month to a crowd of loyal Republicans in Chicago.
"All that starts January 21, and we're going to start right here in Chicago, Illinois," Homan said at the time.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration will target undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds. Many of them have minor offenses, like driving violations.
RELATED | Immigration activists hold protest in Pilsen against President-elect Trump's deportation plans
Community and city leaders are doubling their efforts to prepare Chicago's immigrant community as the threat of the start of Trump deportations looms.
One 34-year old Chicago woman told ABC7 she is scared, not for herself as she's a legal resident, but for many of her family members who aren't and could be caught up in the Trump deportation raids promised to begin next week.
"We can live in fear, that what he wants," she said. "But I feel like if they see someone on the street walking, they're going to be like, 'Okay, are you a legal resident here?'"
SEE ALSO | Aldermen seek to allow CPD to work with ICE to deport lawbreaking non-citizens
"We were expecting this," said Erendira Rendon, Resurrection Project VP of Immigrant Justice. "This is a moment to make sure our communities know what their rights are."
Immigration advocates and others gathered Saturday in Pilsen to get the word out.
"The new administration wants to target Chicago," Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García said. "They want to intimidate a city that would stand up for justice and protection for everyone."
Ald. Jessie Fuentes of the 26th Ward said Chicago Public Schools will not cooperate with immigration officers.
"No agency sister agency of the city of Chicago is going to coordinate or work with ICE agents," Fuentes said. 'We want families to understand that young people can still go to school."
SEE ALSO | Suburban school districts try to calm immigrant community's fears of mass deportations
Also this weekend, some residents attended a "Know Your Rights" workshop to learn how to respond to immigration authorities if they come to their homes or workplaces.
"So this is the four in a series that we've done," said Marissa Arrez with the mayor's Office of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights. "We also did a Facebook live with the Resurrection Project, so we've had a few hundred."
Meanwhile, some members of Chicago's immigrant community are still alarmed and afraid.
"Tuesday, I feel like I will be as a legal resident, I still will be afraid," a woman told ABC7. "Like I mentioned, for friends and family... I will stay at home... with my kids."
The city of Chicago plans to have more informational sessions as some faith leaders join in the effort to protect the immigrant community.
Homan also told ABC News Saturday that even though the Trump team is reviewing plans, they are still committed to taking aggressive action, adding the incoming administration has a new priority of seeking those who are considered public safety and national security threats.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, at an interfaith prayer breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King on Friday, acknowledged the fears many families have about next week.
"But we cannot allow fear and panic to disrupt and to block our unwavering desire to see hope truly manifest," Johnson said.
City leaders reaffirmed Chicago's commitment to being a sanctuary city this week, but that won't stop ICE agents from carrying out orders targeting Chicago that could come as soon as Monday.
The Chicago Police Department shared the following statement Friday:
"The Chicago Police Department enforces the City of Chicago's Municipal Code, which includes the Welcoming City Ordinance. CPD does not document immigration status, and in accordance with the ordinance, does not share information with federal immigration authorities. We will not intervene or interfere with any other government agencies performing their duties."
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office stood firm Friday on his comments made last month about possible mass deportations.
"We have laws that protect people that are undocumented, migrants, and undocumented migrants," Pritzker said at the time. "I am going to make sure to follow the law."
For more information from CPS on immigration guidance and students' rights, click here.
Para más información de CPS sobre orientación de inmigración y derechos de los estudiantes, haga clic aquí.
ABC News contributed to this report.