By: Ashmar Mandou
City leaders and activists rallied on Monday to protest the proposal that would amend Chicago’s sanctuary city rules. The amendment to the Welcoming City Ordinance would allow Chicago Police to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement when they have arrested an undocumented immigrant for certain crimes. Introduced by Alds. Raymond Lopez and Silvana Tabares filed the changes early this month in an effort to allow ICE agents to work with local law enforcement to arrest or convict undocumented immigrants of certain crimes, including “gang related activities,” selling and buying drugs, prostitution, human trafficking and “sexual crimes involving minors,” according to the ordinance text.
“Chicago has long been a welcoming place for immigrants, dating back to our origins as a city. In 1985, Mayor Harold Washington signed an executive order to put protections into law that would later become the Welcoming City Ordinance. This policy was built upon and strengthened by subsequent mayoral administrations. Historically, this shows how Chicago has said YES to protecting immigrants, and NO to efforts that divide our city,” shared Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Lawrence Benito.
Opponents of the changes said the amendments could pose a risk to the immigrant community, and potentially be a violation with the Illinois TRUST Act. Since 2017, Illinois residents have been protected by the Illinois TRUST Act and the Chicago Welcoming Ordinance. Under these laws, state and local law enforcement is restricted in the ways that they can cooperate with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “This amendment to the Welcoming City Ordinance will reopen the city’s risk to serious financial liability because of the systemic violations of the 4th Amendment in ICE’s detainer practice,” said Mark Fleming of the National Immigrant Justice Center. “Just this past year, New York City had to agree to pay $92.5 million for moving people unlawfully under the 4th Amendment on ICE detainers.”
“This proposal not only threatens the safety and dignity of Chicago’s immigrant communities but also will have a chilling effect on labor standards,” said Sophia Zaman, Executive Director at Raise the Floor Alliance. “Worker centers have long advocated for Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance to ensure all residents feel safe seeking help about violations of their rights, regardless of their immigration status. All these proposed carve outs will do is criminalize immigrants and communities of color, spread a culture of fear, and weaken workers’ collective power.”
The proposed change comes as President-elect Donald Trump is days from taking office again after promising to deport millions of undocumented immigrants across the country. Thousands of migrants and asylum seekers have also arrived to Chicago since late 2022 when southern state governors began bussing them to Democratic-controlled cities. The crisis has stretched the city’s resources
[Editor’s Note: At the time of press, the measure was introduced on Wednesday for a vote and was blocked by the Chicago City Council from moving forward. The council voted 39-11]
Photo Caption: City leaders and representatives from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights rally on Monday to urge City Council to vote against the proposed amendments to Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance.
Photo Credit: ICIRR
