Chicago deportation plans: Federal authorities have identified dozens of targets for deportations in the Chicago area, sources say

CHICAGO (WLS) — President Donald Trump is now in control of the federal government, and he was elected in part on promises of the largest deportations in history beginning on day one.

Sources told ABC News over the weekend that the first immigration raids would start right here in Chicago this week.

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Now Chicago city leaders, federal agents, immigrant communities and activists are starting to figure out what those raids might look like.

The Chicago resistance greeted the start of a second Trump administration much like the first, with a protest at its center.

But top Trump surrogates began digging into Chicago’s Republican circle in December, vowing at a holiday party to kickstart what he said would be the “biggest deportation operation in history.”

“All of that starts on January 21st, and we start right here in Chicago, Illinois,” Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said.

Sources told ABC News that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was planning some sort of raid right out of the gates. Homan has waffled on those plans in recent days.

RELATED | Trump administration “reviewing” Chicago immigration attack plans after reports, Homan says

ABC7 police affairs consultant Bill Kushner cautioned that this may not be a grand show of force, like a 2007 ICE raid in Little Village.

“They’re not going to sweep everybody up and put them in a giant net. It’s not going to be like fishing for shrimp. They’re very selective about who they arrest,” Kushner said. “It’s not a street corner sweep. Absolutely not. It’s going to be more targeted. I really believe that’s the only way they’re going to get there.”

Two sources told the ABC7 I-Team that federal authorities have identified dozens of targets for deportation. Sources said all of these so-called targets are either in custody, under arrest or wanted by law enforcement.

Still, some Chicago city leaders say they are in the dark about any details about potential deportation plans.

“I know they wouldn’t let us know, so we want to make sure we’re prepared,” said Ald. Andre Vasquez.

READ MORE | Suburban school districts are trying to calm the immigrant community’s fears of mass deportations

Vasquez chairs the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, so he warns migrants who may be in danger what to know and what to look for.

“For anything to happen, ICE would need a warrant signed. If they don’t have that information, stay calm, stay silent and reach out,” Vasquez said.

Immigrant communities like Little Village have been on edge over deportation issues as the new administration takes office.

Laura Gutierrez Ramos’ father opened the neighborhood’s Nuevo Leon Restaurant in 1977. She is now the second generation to run the popular spot.

Gutierrez Ramos says that for the first time in her 52 years, she is afraid of mass deportations.

“People who have been under the radar, people who pay taxes, people who haven’t left the country for 10, 20 30 years, who have nothing to go back to,” Gutierrez Ramos said.

While the Trump administration says it will begin deporting criminals, Chicago residents are worried about mass attacks targeting undocumented working people and how it will affect the local economy.

“I don’t see anybody coming in here asking to be a dishwasher who isn’t Mexican,” Gutierrez Ramos said.

“The law is that counties and state and municipalities can no longer detain immigrants for immigration purposes and administrative detention. It’s not a criminal issue,” said National Immigrant Justice Center Executive Director Mary Meg McCarthy.

Community groups have spent the last few weeks educating people about their rights. Little Village Community Council’s Baltazar Enriquez braved the cold temperatures to pass out flyers on 26th Street on Monday.

“Letting them know that they have the right to remain silent, not to say anything, not to sign anything,” Enriquez said.

On Sunday, pastors on Chicago’s Southwest Side held a mass to stand in solidarity with local immigrants.

Community members filled the pews at Saint Rita of Cascia Parish in Chicago Lawn.

READ MORE | Pope Francis calls Trump’s plans for mass deportation of immigrants ‘a disgrace’

“Overall, there is a great deal of concern and accomplishment right now within the immigrant community and among those of us who have tried for many, many years to support the immigrant community on a path to citizenship in this country,” Father Larry Dowling, retired pastor of St . Simon of Cyrene Catholic Church.
Community leaders have also held know your rights workshops over the past few days.

They warn immigrant communities to stay home and not open the door.

Illinois public officials have alerted residents that they are protected by state law unless they are a convicted felon.

“I think the point for us is to make sure that our state, our city elected officials are working in a coordinated strategy to have resources and understand their jurisdiction,” said Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez, who represents Illinois’ 3rd District.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez reminded families that all CPS schools are safe havens.

“I want our families to feel confident that they can send their kids to school and we’re not going to interact with ICE,” Martinez said.

In a lengthy statement Monday, the Chicago Police Department said in part, “The Chicago Police Department does not assist federal immigration authorities with enforcement actions based solely on immigration status. In addition, CPD does not document immigration status and does not share such information with federal authorities.”

The Chicago police concluded this statement by making it clear that they will not intervene in immigration enforcement, but they will continue to enforce the law if a crime occurs, regardless of citizenship status.

That enforcement could be for something like a traffic violation, and that’s what has people in the undocumented community on edge right now.

And across the border, Mexico is preparing for mass deportations from the United States.

The Mexican president on Monday announced a program to financially help deportees, especially people who have been in the United States for years and have no family back in Mexico.

Full CPD Statement:
“In accordance with the City of Chicago Municipal Code, which includes the Welcoming City Ordinance, the Chicago Police Department does not assist federal immigration authorities with enforcement actions based solely on immigration status. Additionally, CPD does not document immigration status and does not share such information with federal authorities.

CPD is prohibited by the Welcome City Ordinance from participating in civilian immigration enforcement operations or assisting in the civilian enforcement of federal immigration laws. CPD’s response to incidents involving citizenship status also states that if the department receives a request from an immigration agency to provide assistance in a civil immigration enforcement operation, a supervisor will respond to the scene. If the request is to assist with civil immigration law enforcement, the enforcement agency will deny the request. If the request is not related to civil immigration law, appropriate police action will be taken. The policy for responding to incidents involving citizenship status was recently revised to require a higher-ranking supervisor (a watch operations lieutenant or street deputy) to respond to the scenes of these requests, in addition to the previously required supervisor from the incident district.

To be clear, the Chicago Police Department will not assist or intervene in civil immigration enforcement pursuant to the City of Chicago Municipal Code. As always, we will continue to enforce the law if a crime occurs, regardless of the citizenship status of those involved.”

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