National Guard Chicago: Illinois communities brace for expanded ICE operations, protests this weekend
Communities are bracing for possible protests and ICE raids across the Chicago area.
Crews have put up fencing around Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago. That comes as the expected increase in immigration enforcement, that could come as soon as Saturday.
Officials say as many as 300 federal agents are expected to operate out of Naval Station Great Lakes each day to conduct operations in Chicago.
Naval Station Great Lakes is serving as a logistical hub for the agents.
The president has argued the operations are to increase safety in Chicago though community leaders have doubts about those claims.
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People gathered outside Naval Station Great Lakes Thursday night to pray ahead of the expected enforcement.
Pastor Julie Contreras with United Giving Hope Church says these operations will separate families while Illinois Republican Chair Kathy Salvi says the administration is following through on its campaign promises.
"This administration has shown is they have a resolve to remove the murderers and the gangbangers and arrest them and put them back in the countries where they originally came," Illinois Republican Chair Kathy Salvi said.
"They can stop the destruction of families," Pastor Contreras said. "Go and find the real criminals because they are still out in the streets. The men and women that are in the homes with no criminal backgrounds,, let them live and let them leave and let freedom ring for them.
Waukegan police enacted a new policy calling for officers to remain in uniform, maskless and to not participate in any immigration enforcement operations.
North Chicago's mayor also said police will not engage with DHS activity.
Again the surge in immigration operations in Chicago expected to unfold starting this weekend, though leaders here say there is a lot of fear that some of the operations will also happen in Lake County.
West suburban Broadview is preparing for protests at an immigrant detention center where the windows have been boarded up.
Its expected demonstrators will descend on the location because it's expected to be the main processing hub for those detained by ICE as a part of their upcoming operation.
Village officials said federal authorities informed them that as a part of a large scale enforcement operation, the facility would serve as a primary processing location. It will operate seven days a week for the next month-and-a-half.
Broadview's mayor adds that the village is coordinating its efforts with local law enforcement including the illinois state police and the Cook County Sheriff's police to help ensure safety and order.
While touring a school in west suburban Berwyn to listen to concerns from residents about the ICE operations, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stressed that protests must remain peaceful, so as not to give the trump administration any excuse to deploy the National Guard.
"But part of their kinda nefarious plan is: begin with ICE. Cause mayhem on the ground. And by doing that, say that there's a need for military troops on the ground to protect ICE," Pritzker said. "That's why I've talked a lot about for the people that are going to protest they've gotta protest peacefully. Not give them any reason to call in the National Guard or military troops of other types."
Village officials said they have also been working to help prepare local businesses for any demonstrations. Protests could begin Friday morning.
Concerns about an increase in ICE activity has caused the postponement Chicago's El Grito Festival.
The festival in Grant Park is meant to celebrate Mexico's Independence.
The postponement was announced after organizers got a call from Governor Pritzker.
The festival also put out a statement calling the postponement "a painful decision, but holding El Grito at this time puts the safety of our community at stake - and that's a risk we are unwilling to take."
Chicago police said "regular days off will be cancelled and tour of duty extensions will be implemented for sworn members" from Sept. 12 through Sept. 16.
In preparation for increased federal immigration enforcement, the city of Chicago has an updated website and information hub led by the Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMRR). It will highlight services and protections for the city's immigrant and refugee communities.
