City Officials Protect Immigrant Communites From Upcoming ICE Raid Threats

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Photo credit Tom Vlodek/LoganSquarist

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- As President Trump reportedly threatens to order mass immigration raids, the city of Chicago is openly defying the plan.

It ranges from 35th Ward Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and 33rd Ward Alderman Rossana Rodriguez leading efforts to educate immigrants about how they can protect themselves from raid, including the right to not open their door if agents come unless the agents have a signed warrant from a judge.

Mayor Lightfoot also ordered Chicago Police not to take part in immigration raids or share its gang database with immigration agents. She and Supt. Eddie Johnson are standing together to support the immigrant communities and not share any data with ICE.

"I have also personally spoken with ICE leadership in Chicago and voiced my strong objection to any such raids,” Lightfoot said. “Further, I reiterated that CPD will not cooperate with or facilitate any ICE enforcement actions.”

4/ Chicago will always be a welcoming city and a champion for the rights of our immigrant and refugee communities, and I encourage any resident in need of legal aid to contact the National Immigrant Justice Center (@NIJC). More info here: https://t.co/NTMAmhmBbn

— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) June 21, 2019

Lightfoot, Ramirez-Rosa and Rossana Rodrigues-Sanchez of the 33rd Ward urged immigrants to know their rights and remember that Chicago will always welcome them.

The aldermen, who passed out "Know Your Rights" flyers to residents, said if anyone feels unsafe this weekend, sees a raid or hears about ICE agents, they should call 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY (1-855-435-7693). The support hotline is championed by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

Federal law enforcement sources say the President is threatening to order mass roundups of immigrant families facing deportation orders in Chicago and other cities with large numbers of immigrants starting Sunday.