(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Congress members and Advocates say immigration authorities are making people afraid, and making headlines, but falling short on their mass deportation mission in Chicago.
Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL 4th), himself an immigrant, says many families in Chicago's immigrant communities know their rights and are not opening their doors to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents or answering questions, so the numbers detained are not as high as they might be.
Garcia calls the ICE operations in Chicago calculated cruelty.
“The administration is trying to make these operations into a reality show, dragging a daytime talk show host with them. This isn't about enforcing laws. This is about optics, not public safety.”
But Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (D-IL 3rd) says otherwise law-abiding people are being caught in the dragnets despite the feds saying that they're looking for violent criminals.
“I have talked to mothers whose husbands were detained through home raids. Were some of the most difficult conversations on Sunday. One of them, we are clear, had absolutely no criminal record. The only thing that had happened was that he entered this country,, like millions of other people because of a broken immigration system.
At a news conference at Malcolm X College, immigration advocates were urging people to stay strong and look out for each other.
“You do not need to suffer in silence regardless of your status, you have a voice and you have rights. And I promise you you are not alone. We in community are ready to fight for you,” Viviana Barajas, Associate Director, Palenque LSNA said.
Ramirez and Garcia said the feds have not given them the numbers of detainees so far or their offenses.
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