Dozens of state leaders and activists from the Latino community gathered at Federal Plaza Wednesday morning to rally in support of Chicago’s immigrant community, as the President said he plans to deploy the National Guard in the city.
“We are committed to protecting our immigrant neighbors, and we’re not going to retreat,” said Illinois Rep. Delia Ramirez.
She said the Latino community is “doubling down” on the fight to protect immigrants from these threats from the President.
“The only thing that makes this downtown beautiful is diversity that makes up the city of Chicago,” Ramirez said. “Yet, Trump and his loyalists are willing to weaponize the government against political opposition and communities because we resist these unconstitutional agendas.”
The President’s plans are also causing concern for Illinois Rep. Aarón Ortíz, who represents Chicago’s South and Southwest Sides, which comprise primarily of Black and brown neighborhoods.
“I’ve been knocking on doors these past few weeks and people are afraid,” Ortíz said.” People are afraid, especially when there are agents showing up with masks, not identifying themselves.”
He said he’s witnessed several situations where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have approached neighbors. And Ortíz said he, himself, has even been profiled.
That’s why he said he’s been actively going into the community to make sure neighbors are aware of their rights, as well as working with nonprofit organizations.
“I’m part of multiple rapid response networks in which as soon as we hear of someone get a report that there is ICE activity, we take a picture of it, we report it to the ICE hotline,” he said.
He said beyond violating basic human rights, deploying the military to Chicago could have many economic consequences, too.
“People have stopped going to work,” he said. “This is going to affect young people because many of them may feel the need to get a job because their parents aren’t going to work as much. It’s going to affect the educational system. It’s going to affect the state, Cook County, the city of Chicago. Pepole are afraid to just go outside.”
Meanwhile, activist organizations, like the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, are preparing resources and services should the National Guard come to Chicago.
The coalition’s Deputy Director Veronica Castro said members and community volunteers have been knocking on doors within Chicago’s immigrant communities to make sure neighbors are educated about their rights.
“We have worked to coordinate and organize rapid response teams to spot ICE, notify neighbors and help people get the community and legal support that they need,” Castro said. “We have expanded capacity on our family support network hotline to ensure anyone needing help, including those in deportation crisis, will be connected to the resources that they need.”