Aldermen call for hearing into Chicago police response to ICE demonstration

Yahoo

a day ago

Members of the City Council's Latino Caucus are calling for an investigation into how Chicago police responded to the Wednesday demonstration outside a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement office in the South Loop, where federal agents detained immigrants and clashed with aldermen.
Twelve of the 14 aldermen in the caucus signed a letter condemning the high-profile showdown at 2245 S. Michigan Ave. The council's Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights — which Latino Caucus Chair Ald. Andre Vasquez leads — will hold a hearing 'to examine the extent of ICE's misconduct and determine whether the Chicago Police Department played any role in (Wednesday's) actions,' according to the letter.
In a Wednesday evening statement, the Police Department denied that officers aided the federal agents.
'We condemn in the strongest terms ICE's unlawful detainment practices,' the statement from Latino Caucus members read. 'We stand united in calling for a full investigation into the conduct of ICE agents involved in this operation and for the immediate release of all individuals detained under these unlawful circumstances.'
Vasquez told the Tribune the committee later this month hopes to call Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling and Mayor Brandon Johnson's deputy mayors Garien Gatewood and Beatriz Ponce de Leon, who oversee community safety and immigration rights, respectively. He cited 'conflicting' information on the events at the ICE office and said 'we just want to make sure that protocols are being followed properly related to CPD.'
Johnson on Thursday sidestepped questions on whether he had full confidence in the police response or whether it was appropriate for City Council to probe CPD's actions.
'Look, I think it's important that we assess the entire situation,' the mayor said while speaking to reporters at a National Immigrant Heritage Month event. 'And so assessing what happened to ensure that when the actions of the federal government come up against our values, that the full force of government is showing up in an emphatic way, but in a way that upholds our Welcoming City ordinance.'
The mayor then pivoted to attack an easier political target, President Donald Trump, and shouted out the protesters as 'the resistance that we need.'
'We saw armed, masked men walk down our streets in broad daylight, and they kidnapped mothers and fathers. We saw them brutalize protesters and shove crying grandmothers into the back of unmarked vans,' he said.
A source who spoke with Snelling said Chicago police officers were responding to an emergency call about a safety threat and realized upon arrival that their presence could look like they were partnering with ICE. Police leadership planned to scale back, the source said, but by then a mass gathering was convening so CPD opted to stay.
In his Wednesday statement, Chicago police spokesperson Tom Ahern said CPD began an emergency response at the courthouse Wednesday after receiving two calls of an officer needing assistance. At the scene, Chicago police officers spoke with individuals inside the building and in the large crowd outside 'to ensure the safety of all involved, including those exercising their First Amendment rights.'
'Officers arrived without knowledge of immigration enforcement occurring at the location,' Ahern said. 'At no point did CPD assist in immigration enforcement. All actions taken by CPD during this incident were in accordance with CPD policy and the City of Chicago Municipal Code.'
Carlos Pimeda, far right, tears up as he explains to Chicago aldermen Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, far left, Anthony Quezada, 35th, second left, and Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, that he dropped his family friend off at 8:15 a.m., onJune 4, 2025, at the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) and he's been in the facility for almost 6 hours. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Handcuffed detainees are led into a van by federal agents on South Michigan Avenue as protesters demonstate on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents bring people to white vans outside of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Handcuffed detainees are led into a van by federal agents on South Michigan Avenue as protesters demonstate on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) A protester leads a chant in the alley behind the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) A Chicago police officer speaks to Alds. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, and Anthony Quezada, 35th, as they block the driveway to stop federal vehicles from entering the parking lot outside the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Two boys cry after their mother was taken away in a van by federal agents on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) People cry as they see their loved one being escorted by federal agents outside the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) People in handcuffs are escorted by federal agents to white vans parked outside the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Chicago police stand inside while demonstrators gather on June 4, 2025, at a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, listens in to a speaker during a press conference outside of BI Incorporated's ISAP (Intensive Supervision Appearance Program) on June 4, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) A woman and child move out of the way as federal agents bring people to white vans outside of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) A federal agent pushes Ald. Jessie Fuentes, 26th, as she stands near the parking lot next to the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents hold back protesters as they lead handcuffed detainees into a van on South Michigan Avenue on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Ald. Anthony Quezada, 35th, is knocked down alongside Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, while confronting federal agents on June 4, 2025, as the agents approached a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove detainees from the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) OCAD organizer Antonio Gutierrez speaks to Carlos Pimeda, after Pimeda had waited for 6 hours for a family friend to return from his check-in at the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, on on June 4, 2025. Pimeda brings his friend to his immigration check-ins and they usually last about an hour. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents move people back after they escorted people in handcuffs to white vans parked outside the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) A man tears up as he talks on the phone in the alley behind the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025, as protesters scream at them. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) People wave to their loved one inside of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) People in handcuffs are escorted by federal agents to white vans parked outside the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Exterior of ISAP (Intensive Supervision Appearance Program) at BI Incorporated on South Michigan Avenue on June 4, 2025. A scene unfolded earlier where ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers detained a number of people at the ISAP office. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Masked federal agents arrive to remove detainees as protesters demonstrate on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Alds. Jessie Fuentes, 26th, left, stands with Anthony Quezada, 35th, and Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, as they cry after people in handcuffs were escorted by federal agents to white vans parked outside the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Federal agents hold back protesters as they lead handcuffed detainees into a van on South Michigan Avenue on on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez, 25th, yells at federal agents as they return to their vehicles parked nearby the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office, ISAP, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the South Loop on June 4, 2025, after the federal agents escorted people in handcuffs from the facility into vans. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, is pushed back by federal agents as they arrive to remove detainees on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) The van door closes after handcuffed detainees are loaded in by federal agents on South Michigan Avenue as protesters demonstate on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Handcuffed detainees are led into a van by federal agents on South Michigan Avenue as protesters demonstrate on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) People hug after federal agents took away detainees in vans on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) A boy cries after his mother was taken away in a van by federal agents on June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 31A family walks away in tears after their mother was detained June 4, 2025, outside a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)Expand
Speaking to reporters Thursday morning, Gov. JB Pritzker stood by the CPD response.
'Let's be clear, the Chicago police followed the law,' Pritzker said at an unrelated event. 'And yet those ICE officers were pushing people out of the way in a fashion that I don't think any of us think is right. And I have to say they overstep constantly, one time after another.'
The governor is slated to testify in Washington next week during a GOP-led congressional hearing on Illinois' sanctuary policies for immigrants, just as Johnson did in March. The two of them, along with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, are being sued by the U.S. Justice Department over their jurisdictions' respective laws barring local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
The upcoming City Council hearing could potentially pit the Johnson administration against progressives on the issue of policing. His choice to tap Snelling for the top cop role in 2023 was widely lauded, especially from pro-law enforcement types who worried about his earlier 'defund the police' rhetoric before he ran for mayor. Johnson has since had Snelling's back publicly as Chicago sees a drop in crime, though the superintendent has broken with the mayor on the issue of ShotSpotter and a pending teen curfew ordinance in City Council.
Ald. Jessie Fuentes, a progressive who participated in the Wednesday demonstrations, told the Tribune, 'We are concerned with police officers' prolonged appearance inside of the office where individuals were detained by ICE.'
'When CPD arrived and realized what the situation was, the responding Commander should have gotten his officers out and briefed the community,' Fuentes wrote in a text. 'Instead the Responding Commander was rude to electeds, did not coordinate his officers properly and now the perception is CPD was working with ICE.'
A statement from The Resurrection Project, an immigrant advocacy group, alleged that at least 20 immigrants were detained by ICE during their check-ins — and echoed Fuentes' misgivings on CPD.
'We are deeply concerned to see that Chicago police provided material assistance to ICE, making this mass deportation possible by blocking traffic and providing initial crowd control,' the Wednesday statement said. 'The only people they protected were federal agents tearing our community members away from the people who love and depend on them. This kind of collaboration is an apparent violation of the Illinois Trust Act that degrades public trust in law enforcement.'
By Wednesday afternoon, elected officials, including Alds. Anthony Quezada, Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez and Fuentes had joined the growing number of protesters at the ICE office. The Latino Caucus statement said 'Quezada was physically assaulted by an ICE agent—struck with a baton and thrown to the ground multiple times' while Sigcho-Lopez, Rodriguez Sanchez and Fuentes told the Tribune they were also jostled.
The Tribune's Jeremy Gorner contributed reporting.