THE WEST LOOP (WBBM Newsradio) -- Advocates for immigrants in the Chicago area say they're seeing signs that federal agents may be starting a new round of stepped-up enforcement, and their first targets may be people coming in and out of Cook County courthouses.
"Well, here we are again," said Fred Tsao from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights as he talked to reporters Thursday afternoon outside the Cook County domestic violence courthouse, 555 W. Harrison St, which he said was one of the four courthouses where ICE agents were sighted earlier in the day.
"This morning at 8:30, we received a call about ICE presence at the Maywood courthouse," said Flor Diaz from the PASO-West Suburban Action Project. Through a translator, Diaz said that her group mobilized seven members of its Rapid Response team to assist.
Tsao said agents were also seen outside the Grand and Central and Pullman courthouses: "Seeing ICE presence at four courthouses all in the same morning seems like an escalation."
Katie Pelich from the Cook County Public Defender's office said agents have arrested at least a dozen people outside courthouses in recent weeks, in violation of a state law.
"A client was arrested on an alleged immigration violation moments after the misdemeanor property damage charge he was facing was dismissed," Pelich said of one arrest.
Tsao also pointed to comments from Trump border czar Tom Homan during a conference this week in Arizona, which Tsao sanitized: "He said 'you haven't seen "stuff" yet.'"
Tsao's response? "We've seen plenty of 'stuff' over the last year and a half or so, we have been ready, we will be ready."
Advocates say agents spotted outside 4 courthouses in 1 day
Advocates say agents spotted outside 4 courthouses in 1 day
