ICE Raids Sweep Chicago, Sparking Fear in Immigrant Communities

CHICAGO, Ill. — Federal immigration agents conducted a series of raids across Chicago and its suburbs on Sunday, arresting an unknown number of individuals in what appears to be the start of a promised crackdown on undocumented immigrants. The operations, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have left immigrant communities on edge, with reports of agents targeting homes and neighborhoods with large immigrant populations.

Maria, a resident of Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood, learned her husband had been detained when ICE agents arrived at her apartment Sunday morning. “They took him,” she said, declining to give her last name for privacy reasons. “We didn’t know what was happening until they were at our door.”

ICE spokesman Jeff Carter confirmed the agency had launched “enhanced targeted operations” in Chicago, part of a nationwide effort that resulted in 1,000 arrests on Sunday. Carter stated the operations aimed to enforce immigration laws and “preserve public safety and national security.” However, ICE did not specify how many arrests occurred in the Chicago area.

The raids come amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Tom Homan, the administration’s “border czar,” and Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove were spotted in Chicago on Sunday, meeting with federal agents. Homan has repeatedly labeled Chicago a priority for mass deportations, while Bove has advocated for prosecuting local officials who resist federal immigration enforcement.

In the Hermosa neighborhood, Melissa, another resident, described the fear that gripped her family when ICE agents arrived. “My parents hid in the attic,” she said. “They took our neighbor’s dad. We’ve been here for over 20 years, and now we’re terrified.”

Similar scenes unfolded across the city. In South Chicago, agents were seen searching for individuals near a liquor store, while in Rogers Park, Michelle Vallet witnessed agents approach a neighbor’s home. “I was scared for my neighbors, for this nation,” Vallet said. “This is going to be common now.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson confirmed the city’s police department did not participate in the raids, in accordance with local sanctuary city policies. “Know your constitutional rights,” Johnson urged residents in a statement on social media. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that state and local law enforcement would not assist federal agents without judicial warrants.

Advocacy groups condemned the raids, with Julie Contreras of United Giving Hope calling them an act of “terror” against immigrant families. “Today, Donald Trump placed terror into the hearts of U.S. citizen children,” Contreras said. Meanwhile, four local organizations filed a federal lawsuit Saturday seeking to halt the raids, arguing they violate constitutional rights.

As the sun set on Sunday, the streets of Hermosa remained quiet, but the fear lingered. Maria’s friends brought diapers and baby formula to her home, offering support as she navigated the uncertain process of locating her husband. “Everything is very new,” said Monica Cazares, a family friend. “People are scared. This is home, and now it feels like it’s under attack.”