Chicagoans continue protests against Trump and ICE Thursday as demonstrators rally across the US

Yahoo

a day ago

Chicago is facing another day of protests against ICE raids Thursday as demonstrations continue across the country against President Donald Trump's deployment of troops in Los Angeles amid his immigration crackdown.
In the first of two anticipated protests, approximately 100 activists, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Fr. Michael Pfleger, marched outside the Target at the intersection of South State and East Madison Streets to condemn Target's recent policy reversals around diversity and 'escalating civil rights rollbacks.'
Speakers condemned immigration enforcement that has swept up people, including children, at workplaces, court and in the street across the country.
'America doing the electric slide backward,' said Pastor Jamal Bryant, who likened the scene on State Street to a Woolworth's lunch counter. 'This is the America we thought we changed.'
By 4 p.m. protesters from the first began dashing to the second demonstration, organized by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
'Nowadays, you have to choose between whether you want to get your medication and whether you want to pay your rent,' said Margaret Heywood-Smith, 70, as she hurried south down State Street where about 400 people had gathered by Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive. The crowd raised red signs and chanted their support for immigrants.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, anticipating that the city may see further federal action in the coming days, called on Chicagoans Wednesday to 'resist in this moment' if Trump mobilizes the military in Chicago to support ICE raids. Johnson's chief of staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas told reporters that Chicago was expecting a blitz of ICE enforcement at workplaces starting Thursday.
Advocates and activists reported several sets of arrests around the city Thursday, including at immigration court. At least two demonstrations were planned for downtown — one Thursday afternoon on South State Street and another outside an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outpost in the South Loop.
'People are joined together…we will be marching to demand a stop to the raids and protection for our families,' said Lawrence Benito, executive director for Illinois Coalition for Immigrant Refugee Rights, at a Thursday morning news conference ahead of the protests.
People argue with Chicago police officers after some people were detained in the Loop, June 10, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator is detained on Dearborn Street and placed in a police vehicle as people rally and march in downtown Chicago following nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Activists march towards the Loop after protests took place across the country following recent ICE raids on immigrant communities, June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator yells a chant at police during a rally and march in the Loop against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) People argue with Chicago police officers after they saw people detained during an ICE protest in the Loop on June 10, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Chicago police officers detain a demonstrator during a rally and march in the Loop against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) People argue with police officers after watching some people were detained in the Loop, June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator moves around a Chicago police vehicle damaged by graffiti in downtown Chicago as people rally and march in response to nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Activists confront diners while marching in the Loop, June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator in a mask and bike helmet takes in the scene as people march in downtown Chicago in response to nationwide immigration raids on June 10, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator is detained as people march in downtown Chicago in response to nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Chicago police officers detain demonstrators during a rally and march in the Loop against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator climbs onto a traffic light pole during a rally and march in the Loop against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Police detain people during a march in Chicago's Loop, June 10, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator yells chants while walking past police officers during a rally and march in the Loop against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator is detained by Chicago police during a rally and march in the Loop against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Demonstrators stand on the Picasso statue in Daley Plaza during a rally against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Chicago police officers and demonstrators get close during a march in the Loop against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement, June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator holds a sign promoting education over deportation during a rally and march in the Loop against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Chicago police officers stand guard at Daley Plaza as a news broadcast about U.S. military deployment into Los Angeles is displayed on a screen during a rally and march against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Chicago police officers detain a demonstrator during a rally and march in the Loop against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) A demonstrator holds a U.S. flag in front of police officers during a rally and march in the Loop against nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Protesters rally in Chicago's Loop on Tuesday as demonstrations flared across the country against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdowns. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Activists rally in Chicago's Loop on June 10, 2025, after protests took place across the country following recent ICE raids on immigrant communities. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Activists rally in Chicago's Loop on June 10, 2025, after protests took place across the country following recent ICE raids on immigrant communities. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A woman stops a man from dragging a trash bin into the street as people protesting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids march on State Street in Chicago, June 10, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Demonstrators and Chicago police clash on State Street as people march in downtown Chicago in response to nationwide immigration raids by federal law enforcement on June 10, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Activists rally in Dirksen Federal Plaza in Chicago on June 10, 2025, after protests took place across the country following recent ICE raids. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Activists rally in Chicago's Dirksen Federal Plaza on June 10, 2025, after protests took place across the country following recent ICE raids. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Activists rally in Chicago's Dirksen Federal Plaza on June 10, 2025, following recent ICE raids on immigrant communities. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) People protesting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement prepare to march toward federal plaza in Chicago, June 10, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Activists rally in the federal plaza in Chicago on June 10, 2025, after protests took place across the country following recent ICE raids on immigrant communities. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Activists march on South Carpenter Street in the Lower West Side neighborhood on June 8, 2025, in Chicago to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country. The protest started at the Plaza Tenochtitlán and ended at Benito Juárez Community Academy. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Activists rally in Chicago's Lower West Side neighborhood to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country on June 8, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A vendor sells lemon snowcones while activists rally in the Pilsen neighborhood on June 8, 2025, in Chicago to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A woman watches from a restaurant as activists march on West Cermak Road in Chicago's Lower West Side neighborhood on June 8, 2025, to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Activists march on West Cermak Road in the Lower West Side neighborhood on June 8, 2025, in Chicago to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country. The protest started at the Plaza Tenochtitlán and ended at Benito Juárez Community Academy. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Angel Naranjos, 20, yells into a megaphone while marching with other activists on West 18th Street in the Pilsen neighborhood on June 8, 2025, to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country. The protest started at the Plaza Tenochtitlán and ended at Benito Juárez Community Academy. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Activists rally in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country on June 8, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Activists march on South Carpenter Street in the Pilsen neighborhood to protest recent ICE arrests in Chicago and around the country on June 8, 2025. The protest started at the Plaza Tenochtitlán and ended at Benito Juárez Community Academy. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A grill sizzles as activists march on West 18th Street in Chicago's Lower West Side neighborhood on June 8, 2025, to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Activists march on West 18th Street in the Lower West Side neighborhood to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country on June 8, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Sign-carrying activists march on West 18th Street in the Lower West Side neighborhood on June 8, 2025, to protest recent ICE arrests in Chicago and around the country. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) People watch as activists march on West 18th Street on June 8, 2025, in protest of recent ICE arrests in Chicago and around the country over the past week. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A person holds a Mexican flag from their window as activists march on West 18th Street in the Pilsen neighborhood on June 8, 2025, to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A woman raises her fist as activists march on June 8, 2025, on Chicago's West Cermak Road to protest recent ICE arrests in the city. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Residents watch the march on South Carpenter Street in Chicago's Lower West Side neighborhood on June 8, 2025, held to protest recent ICE arrests in the city and around the country. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 48An activist is detained in the Loop during ICE protests on June 10, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Expand
The Chicago Housing Authority office at 60 E. Van Buren St. closed early today due to the protests downtown, a CHA employee told the Tribune. Chicago's immigration court also closed early, according to a post on X by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The wave of protests that began Friday in Los Angeles has spread to other cities including New York, Austin, Seattle and Las Vegas among other cities and towns. Chicago saw its first large-scale demonstration Tuesday evening when thousands marched through the Loop and beyond to demand that the federal government stand down on its arrests of undocumented immigrants. The demonstration spanned much of the Loop and River North neighborhoods and periodically snarled traffic on several crowded thoroughfares, including DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
Chicago police said 17 people were arrested at that protest, and four were charged with felonies. More a dozen people were charged or cited for defacing public property including squad cars and CTA buses, police said. But that tension still pales in comparison to California and Texas, where National Guard troops have mobilized at the direction of Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Johnson, Gov. JB Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, all Democrats, are all vocal supporters of Illinois and Chicago's 'sanctuary city' status — meaning the city and state do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement — and Johnson said Wednesday that they were committed to 'maintain the sensibilities of our democracy, the ability to freely express protest, that's fundamental to our democracy.'
Pritzker on Thursday defended Illinois' sanctuary laws for immigrants in the U.S. without legal permission before a House committee.
'The vast majority of immigrants contribute to our communities, pay taxes and abide by the law. We should value their entrepreneurship, ingenuity and hard work. Both political parties are to blame for America's broken immigration system. I hope that this committee chooses (to) be part of the solution by pursuing bipartisan comprehensive federal immigration reform,' the state's two-term governor said in remarks submitted to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Andrew Herrera, a spokesperson for the Chicago Workers Collaborative, said the modern sanctuary city movement grew out of ICE raids at workplaces in the 2000s, when the public targeting of undocumented workers at meatpacking plants and industrial centers revealed how deeply disruptive federal immigration enforcement could be.
The movement gained momentum after high-profile raids in 2006 and 2008 under former President George W. Bush, including the raids at Swift & Company meatpacking plants in several Midwestern states and a meat processing plant in Postville, Iowa, which led to hundreds of arrests and devastated entire communities.
If you're arrested by ICE in Illinois, what happens next? Legal experts explain the process.
Over the past week, advocates have reported workplace raids across the suburbs. It's unclear how many people have been swept up.
'The reports of weekend raids in the Chicago area don't compare in scale, but it's a significant escalation to do a workplace raid at all,' Herrera said.
Marco Ceniceros, executive director of Warehouse Workers for Justice, said the organization is bracing for more raids in the coming days, similar to what has been happening in Los Angeles.
'Immigrant workers are under attack everywhere. This administration and ICE are trying to intimidate, silence and kidnap many of the workers — the many people that make this economy run,' he said.
Since January, the organization responds at least 'a couple times a day to sighting or rumors' that ICE is at workplaces. The workers, he said, have worked through the pandemic, extreme weather, pay taxes and keep communities going.
'They're scared to drive to work, to drop off their kids at school, to go to church,' he said.
Activists have also announced plans for a 'No Kings' march Saturday in concert with other demonstrations around the country, expected to draw thousands of people downtown.
Chicago Tribune's Lizzie Kane contributed.