Activists and community members gathered in Pilsen to protest against Trump’s immigration policies and support local immigrant rights.
PILSEN: Chants of “Sí se puede!” filled the air as people gathered in Plaza Tenochtitlán. They were there to protest President-elect Trump’s plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation organized the event, bringing together activists, local leaders, and community members. Over 50 organizations supported the protest, showing a united front against Trump’s tough immigration stance.
Chicago has been in the spotlight since Texas Governor Greg Abbott started sending migrants to the city last year. Since then, around 51,000 migrants, mainly from Venezuela, have arrived in Chicago.
Trump’s “Border Czar,” Tom Homan, recently threatened to start mass deportations in Chicago. His comments didn’t sit well with the crowd. Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez called it a cowardly attack on the city.
Sigcho-Lopez pointed out that Trump and his supporters use immigrants as scapegoats for bigger issues. He emphasized the need for the community to stand up against these attacks.
He spoke to the crowd in both English and Spanish, urging Chicagoans to fight back against right-wing policies targeting immigrants.
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union were also there, expressing concern about how Trump’s plans could affect students in Chicago Public Schools. They highlighted that many families would be impacted if undocumented students were banned from school.
Activists criticized both major political parties for their roles in immigration policies. They pointed out that former President Obama deported millions during his time in office, earning him the title “deporter in chief.”
Trump, during his first term, deported about 1.2 million people and has plans for even larger operations under Homan’s leadership.
Mayor Brandon Johnson stated that local law enforcement wouldn’t cooperate with federal agents, but he didn’t offer new strategies to counter Trump’s plans.
Chicago’s laws prevent local police from working with federal agencies, but ICE can still deport undocumented immigrants. Some aldermen are pushing to vote on Chicago’s sanctuary status soon.
Alderman Lopez believes that cooperation could help protect undocumented immigrants who haven’t committed crimes. Sigcho-Lopez wrapped up the protest by encouraging everyone to gather outside City Hall to support keeping Chicago’s sanctuary status.
He stressed the importance of solidarity and urged people to contact their local representatives to vote against any amendments that could harm the immigrant community.
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