ICE Raids Spark Fear in Chicago Suburbs as Immigrant Communities Mobilize

LYONS, Ill. — Federal immigration agents conducted enforcement actions across several Chicago suburbs over the weekend, sparking fear and anxiety in immigrant communities. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were reported in Deer Park, Palatine, Mundelein, Round Lake, and Waukegan, according to local advocates.

“Rightfully so, our communities are fearful, they’re anxious, they’re stressed,” said Dulce Ortiz, executive director of Mano a Mano Family Resource Center in Waukegan. Ortiz described ICE agents knocking on doors at an apartment complex in Waukegan last weekend, raising concerns about the lack of warrants. “If the agency is targeting people with criminal backgrounds, why aren’t they holding warrants?” she asked.

Cristobal Cavazos, coordinator of Immigrant Solidarity DuPage, reported seeing ICE officers near a Hispanic grocery store in Palatine on Sunday. “They say they’re just looking for criminals, don’t worry. But in the process, they nab anybody that they can get,” Cavazos said.

President Donald Trump’s administration has emphasized targeting individuals with criminal records. Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, stated Wednesday that there are approximately 700,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions in the U.S. “That’s our No. 1 target,” Homan said during a News Nation interview.

However, advocates argue that the raids are creating widespread fear, even among those without criminal records. Itzel Sernas, an employee at a Deer Park Mexican restaurant, described her shock when ICE agents parked near her workplace. “We were a little shocked,” she said. “It is scary, but it’s sad for people who have lived here for so many years and are working hard.”

In response, organizations like Immigrant Solidarity DuPage and Mano a Mano have been holding “Know Your Rights” sessions, advising undocumented individuals not to open doors or speak to agents without legal representation. “If they have no warrant, there is no obligation to open the door,” Cavazos said.

Meanwhile, an Elgin man without a criminal record was detained by U.S. Marshals on Tuesday while they executed an arrest warrant for a relative. His daughter, Janeth Lopez, expressed frustration, saying, “No family deserves this.”

ICE has not yet responded to requests for comment on the suburban enforcement actions. Homan defended the operations, stating that agents have removed “sexual predators, child predators, sex offenders, convicted murderers, and numerous gang members” in Chicago. “We made Chicago a lot safer,” he said.

Despite the fear, immigrant communities are mobilizing. Local advocates are tracking ICE activity, providing legal aid, and organizing workshops. “The administration wants to instill fear tactics,” said U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez at a press conference. “But what does the community and the state of Illinois do when we are under attack? We stand up and we fight back.”

As the raids continue, many undocumented residents are taking precautions, such as signing powers of attorney and implementing safety systems to stay connected with family members. “We are afraid, but fear hasn’t paralyzed us,” said Yess Gómez, a Chicago resident and immigrant rights advocate. “My kids don’t deserve to see their mother hiding.”