Cook County leaders denounce presence of ICE agents in Chicago area amid Operation Midway Blitz immigration crackdown
Cook County leaders and immigrant advocates are pushing back as an immigration crackdown ramps up in the Chicago area.
Meanwhile Wednesday night in Elgin, dozens gathered for a community prayer vigil just a day after a large immigration operation there .
There is a growing fear in Chicago-area communities about how immigration enforcement operations are unfolding.
Wednesday, a Cook County resolution was discussed at a committee meeting. County leaders say its meant to protect the rights of people as ICE activity continues to increase.
"The resolution condemns ICE increasingly dangerous tactics under the Trump Administration and calls on county agencies to provide commissioners with official communication whenever immigration enforcement takes place in our buildings on county property or with our staff," Commissioner Jessica Vasquez said.
The Trump administration has reiterated they are going after criminals during "Operation Midway Blitz."
"We cannot tolerate injustice for the inhumane treatment of people who come to our communities seeking safety and opportunity to build a better life for their families," Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said.
The resolution discussion comes as ABC7 learned more about a person who was detained in Little Village earlier this week near 24th and Albany.
In an interview with Univision, the partner of the man who was detained says her family was running errands when pick-up trucks with federal agents surrounded them.
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Video she recorded inside the car shows an ICE agent telling the couple they need to open the door. The woman, who did not want to be identified, said her partner has a pending asylum case and she does too.
She said she tried to explain and show agents their documents, but instead agents pulled her partner by shirt and took him into custody.
County leaders are also sharing concerns over ICE activity at county buildings and property.
About two weeks ago, there were immigration arrests at the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse The Public Defender's Office confirmed two people who showed up at the courthouse and were taken into custody by federal agents.
"Sometimes it's happening before court, sometimes it's happening during court, sometimes it's happening after court," public defender Sharone R. Mitchell said.
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After five people were arrested in Elgin, who the Department of Homeland Security says are undocumented and some have prior criminal histories, faith leaders welcomed the immigrant community inside a church Wednesday night, hoping faith quells their fears.
"We cannot live life with fear," said Maggie Lugo, executive director of Casa Michoacan. "We have to stand with each other, for each other."
As immigrant enforcement intensifies on Chicago-area streets, some who are undocumented sought hope from above during an interfaith vigil at First Presbyterian Church of Elgin, while raising awareness of immigrants rights.
"We have elected officials calling for immigration enforcement to back off because this is our community," said Dianha Ortega-Ehreth with Centro de Información.
It's concern over ICE operations that drives Lugo's commitment to protecting innocent undocumented immigrants, like herself.
"In this crisis, it can make us or break us," Lugo said.
She moved from Mexico to Chicago's Little Village neighborhood with her family when she was 8-years-old.
"This is a life mission, and knowing that, yes, I do have a status under DACA, that's also in court, like, that doesn't make me permanent," Lugo said. "They're arresting U.S. citizens, like what happened yesterday."
Those two apparent American citizens were released after being detained . The incident was captured in a video posted by DHS.
Federal authorities confirmed ICE agents arrested five people in Elgin on Tuesday. DHS says the five are undocumented immigrants, and three have prior criminal histories, some including alleged assault, DUI and felony stalking.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement, "President Trump has been clear: if politicians will not put the safety of their citizens first, this administration will."
That militarized federal force was also seen in a video as ICE agents descended on Elgin during its ongoing "Operation Midway Blitz."
"I would argue that, historically, ICE has always been an agency that skirts the law, whether under the Obama administration or the prior Trump administration or any other administration, but this level of violence and, like I was saying, theater has a sort of unprecedented flavor to it," said Kevin Herrera, an immigration attorney with the Raise The Floor Alliance.
In response to Tuesday's ICE arrest in Elgin, Secretary Noem said in a statement, "Our work is only beginning."
