Chicago braces for expanded ICE enforcement over the weekend
The Chicago area is bracing for additional immigration enforcement, which could start as soon as Friday, according to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
At a press conference earlier this week, Pritzker said that U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations would ramp up in Chicago over the weekend -- even as soon as Friday. There could be up to 300 ICE agents, according to local officials.
In response to the added ICE enforcement, city officials from neighboring communities are bracing for the impact of up to the agents, according to Gregory Jackson, who serves as the Chief of Staff in North Chicago, Illinois. Agents and officials are expected to operate out of the Great Lakes Naval Station for about 30 days, he said.
Fencing was seen going around the federal courthouse in Chicago, in anticipation of the enforcement actions occurring. Also, agents and officials are expected to operate out of the Great Lakes Naval Station for about 30 days, Jackson said.
El Grito Chicago, the city's festival for Mexican Independence Day, has postponed the event scheduled for next weekend because of the ICE activity.
"It was a painful decision, but holding El Grito Chicago at this time puts the safety of our community at stake – and that's a risk we are unwilling to take," the event posted on its website.
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing back at the expanded ICE presence, saying that the city doesn't "want or need militarized immigration enforcement in our city."
The increased enforcement comes as President Donald Trump has said he would deploy National Guard troops to Chicago because of crime in the city. Trump has repeatedly singled out Chicago as he has mulled sending the Guard to other major American cities following his federal takeover of Washington. Trump has said he preferred cities ask for his administration's assistance.
Pritzker has pushed back on the Trump administration's involvement in Chicago, saying "I will not call the president, asking him to send troops to Chicago. I've made that clear already," Pritzker said.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told ABC News that the enforcement is targeting the "worst of the worst" criminals.
"It is no surprise that these criminals flock to sanctuary cities where politicians protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets putting American lives at risk," the spokespersons said. "DHS will go to wherever these criminal illegal aliens are -- including Chicago, Boston and other cities. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, nowhere is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return."
