ICE agents detain 2 Pilsen residents without warrants, alderman says
ICE arrest of 2 Chicago residents angers neighbors, local officials
Two Pilsen residents were allegedly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents Monday morning, prompting outrage from local leaders and calls for a full investigation into the arrests, which witnesses said were conducted without warrants.
CHICAGO - Two Pilsen residents were allegedly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents Monday morning, prompting outrage from local leaders and calls for a full investigation into the arrests, which witnesses said were conducted without warrants.
Chicago ICE arrests
What we know:
According to Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward), one person was taken into custody at a business in the ward and another from their home in the 1800 block of South Carpenter Street around 8:30 a.m. Monday.
Sigcho-Lopez says the detained men are Mexican nationals in their thirties and tells FOX 32 Chicago that they are roommates.
Their names haven't been formally released, and it's unclear what led to the "targeted immigration enforcement operation" — or whether it involved any criminal allegations.
What they're saying:
Sigcho-Lopez said video footage submitted to his office and conversations with residents indicated that no warrants were presented during the arrest.
"We are calling for a full investigation that brings great concern to our community with these trends happening across the country," Sigcho-Lopez said in a letter to constituents.
Cellphone video of the immigration operation captures neighbors shouting warnings to others in the area.
"The business owners, people at their homes, they must be given a warrant. This is not an optional thing," Sigcho-Lopez told FOX 32 Chicago. "I think the constitutional rights, when they are violated, set a chilling effect."
Video from residents also shows a CPD squad car in the area; the Chicago Police Department released the following statement on Tuesday:
"An officer was en route to court and observed law enforcement activity. Upon learning this activity was related to civil immigration enforcement, the officer immediately left the scene. At no point did the officer assist in the immigration enforcement."
U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-Chicago) said he's been in contact with Sigcho-Lopez's office to "offer asssistance" and get information about the detentions.
In a statement, Garcia said, in part, "While we do not know if the agents presented any warrants before detaining them, any apprehension without due process, including no warrants, is unfair and illegal. Chicago is a sanctuary city, and in Illinois, the Trust Act prohibits State or local law enforcement’s participation in federal immigration enforcement. My staff and I will continue to be in communication with advocacy organizations and local elected officials as this case develops."
ARISE Chicago, the Pilsen Chamber of Commerce, and the Pilsen Wellness Center are providing guidance, legal aid and emotional support to residents, Sigcho-Lopez said. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is also assisting.
"Chicago remains a sanctuary city and as a community we will do everything we can to protect our constituents from these abuses," Sigcho-Lopez continued.
Moises Zavala, an organizer with ARISE Chicago, says their team responded to 18th and Carpenter on Monday after receiving a call from the alderman's office.
"We actually went out to the community to get more information, and also to provide more information," Zavala said.
The organization supports immigrant workers and is now reminding residents of their rights.
"They have the right to remain silent, they have the right to speak to an attorney, and we have to protect these rights every step of the way," Zavala explained.
Sigcho-Lopez urged residents to stay vigilant and contact his office or the rapid response team if they encounter ICE activity.
The other side:
The FBI released the following statement regarding Monday's activity in Pilsen:
"We can confirm that the FBI was supporting a [DHS] targeted immigration enforcement operation at a residence in the referenced vicinity yesterday which resulted in the apprehension of two subjects. The FBI, alongside other Department of Justice law enforcement partners, have been supporting these efforts at the direction of the Attorney General. The FBI’s contribution to this effort can vary dependent on the specific needs of DHS."
This comes on the heels of federal agents ramping up immigration enforcement activity on the East Coast — arresting nearly 1,500 non-citizens in Massachusetts following a month-long operation, which was announced by ICE on Monday.
"Make no mistake: Every person that we arrested was breaking our immigration laws, but most of these individuals had significant criminality. They are criminal offenders who victimized innocent people and traumatized entire communities — murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, child sex predators and members of violent transnational criminal gangs," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde.
FOX 32 reached out to ICE for more information regarding the arrests in Pilsen but did not immediately hear back.
The Source: The information in the report came from the office of Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez.