(The Center Square) – Chicago officials are preparing for more intense federal immigration enforcement and potential protests this weekend.
During a march and demonstration Tuesday evening in downtown Chicago, protesters marked several cars, police vehicles and Chicago Transit Authority buses with graffiti, blocked traffic and held anti-ICE and anti-police signs.
At least 15 protesters were arrested. City officials indicated that they expect additional protests on Saturday.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, said Wednesday the city received word that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactical units would soon be ready to deploy in Chicago. Pacione-Zayas also said that Chicago was one of five Democrat-led cities ICE would be targeting and that agents were expected to visit workplaces.
The mayor said his administration was prepared, but he repeatedly criticized President Donald Trump.
“As far as what our preparation will look like moving forward, we do know that this president is determined to insert chaos. Our responsibility locally is continue to provide calm and structure,” Johnson said.
The mayor said his administration showed at the Democratic National Convention last summer that it knows how to protect people’s right to assemble.
At various times during his media availability Wednesday, Johnson described the President and/or his administration as “sick,” “cowards,” “hypocrites,” “dangerous,” and “fraudulent.” The mayor also repeated a remark he made last week when he said Trump was setting “human traps.”
Johnson said he was counting on all of Chicago to resist.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a news briefing in Washington, D.C. Wednesday that the Trump administration was ending chaos and restoring law and order.
“The mob violence is being stomped out. Criminals responsible will swiftly be brought to justice, and the Trump administration’s operations to arrest illegal aliens are continuing unabated,” Leavitt said.
After describing the federal government’s response to anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles, Leavitt said Democrats are attempting to use a violent mob as a weapon against their own constituents to prevent the enforcement of immigration law.
Leavitt called federal immigration officers “heroic” and said they have targeted illegal alien murderers, rapists and pedophiles.
Two Illinois members of Congress spoke at a press conference in Washington Wednesday to mark the 13th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the executive order by President Barack Obama to allow children brought into the U.S. illegally to stay without being deported.
Illinois U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago, lashed out at the Trump administration.
“I’m the congresista of a welcoming state that this fascist government attacks but we will not allow to walk us back our love and our commitment to our immigrant communities,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said the Trump administration was putting DACA recipients at risk.
Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, said he would not name names, but some politicians label immigrants as rapists, terrorists and murderers.
“That’s why we’re here today, to remind our friends, Democrats and Republicans, that immigration has many faces. The immigration we’re talking about through DACA is a face that means a better and stronger America,” Durbin said.
