Activists Rally Against Immigration Crackdown in Chicago

Tue Oct 21 2025 19:44:02 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

With increasing encounters between federal immigration agents and the community, Chicago activists are stepping up their efforts to protect day laborers and immigrant families from deportation.

As the Trump administration focuses on immigration enforcement in Chicago, activists are employing new tactics to combat the crackdown. They are organizing community responses including bike patrols and the distribution of emergency whistles to warn residents of ICE activities. Following recent arrests of day laborers and a fatal shooting involving ICE agents, local leaders are determined to resist these aggressive tactics and protect immigrant rights.

CHICAGO (AP) — As encounters with federal immigration agents around Chicago increase, tactics used by activists and immigrant leaders to fight back are also escalating.

The Trump administration has singled out Chicago as its latest mark for immigration enforcement, using traffic stops in immigrant-heavy areas and targeting day laborers outside hardware stores.

Activists and local leaders are also defiant, trying to deter agents, warn residents and keep attention on a man killed by an immigration officer last week.

Focusing on Day Laborers

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has launched a new operation targeting day laborers, leading to increased arrests in immigrant neighborhoods.

Community members claim these incidents are often conducted covertly, instilling fear and confusion among residents. Activists have organized bike patrols and distributed emergency whistles to alert neighborhoods when ICE agents are spotted.

Community Response

Activists use social media to circulate information about suspected ICE activities and engage in protests outside hotels where local agents stay. They are determined to safeguard their communities against what they describe as unwarranted threats.

In the aftermath of a tragic shooting involving ICE, leaders like Miguel Alvelo Rivera emphasize the humane aspect of their fight, highlighting the contributions of immigrant workers who are now targeted in these raids.

Looking Forward

As criticisms grow regarding the tactics of ICE, activists remain unwavering in their resolve to protect their communities from deportations and violence, advocating for a humane approach that respects immigrant rights.