Chicago (AP) – Chicago Community Leaders made progress on Wednesday Preparation for inflow National Guard’s Military and immigration agents The city hopes to advise residents on their rights and organize protests with new urgency.
Although details of the operation are scarce, President Donald Trump has increased his crime rhetoric in the country’s third largest city, and has oppressed immigrants. National Guard deployment It is planned despite objections Local leader And a Federal Court Judgment That similar developments in Los Angeles were illegal.
Preparation seems familiar A democratic hub It often found itself in the crosshairs of cards.
Still, they say that schools, churches and community groups leaders – particularly in city immigrant enclaves and Black and Latino areas, gravity and adjustments are increasing to prepare for the expected military deployment and the flood of attention that comes with it.
Here’s how to prepare for Chicago:
Protesters say they’re ready
Chicago’s energetic even if you don’t know what’s going to unfold Activist Network He circulated the “emergency protest” schedule and vowed to demonstrate within hours of federal intervention.
Immigration rights groups, unions, clergy and anti-violent organisations said they are working together more than ever.
“We’re getting stronger than we’re preparing for mobilization,” said Lawrence Benito, director of the Illinois Union for the Rights of Immigrants and Refugees. “People still have to live their lives. We make sure people are ready and ready to respond.”
The immigrant community is High alert Since Trump took office for the second time in January and kicked off National Immigration Enforcement Project In Chicago.
Activists say they already offer countless amounts I know on the right Added training sessions and time for hotlines where people can report immigrant arrests. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently signed Presidential Order Repeating the city’s long-standing sanctuary policies, local police have banned coordination with federal immigration agents.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will speak at a press conference in Chicago on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. (AP photo/kiichiro Sato)
Chicago’s Trump Plan
Trump signaled this week that he was ready to order federal authorities to mobilize and fight crimes in Chicago despite objections from Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pretzker. Trump has not given a timeline for Chicago’s operation, and he once again proposed the outlook in muddy form on Wednesday New Orleans As the next possible location.
Trump’s administration has shown that it will do so Immigration business will soon be expanded Chicago and the Department of Homeland Security We requested limited logistics support Outside the city, on the Great Lakes.
The administration deployed the National Guard Los Angeles Over the summer and as part of his unprecedented law enforcement agency. take over In Washington, DC, he has direct legal control. His administration is expected to appeal California’s deployment ruling.
Trump often picked out Chicago Other Democrat-led cities. Recently, his administration began replaying the city’s daily crime log, including use Gunshot Labor Day weekend as justification for sending the army.
“I want to go to Chicago and I have this incompetent governor,” Trump said Wednesday.
He and Pretzker have been trading barbs on the issue for days. Pretzker, Second term governor And frequently Trump critics have emerged as presidential candidates for 2028.
“I cannot live in the fantastic land where Trump pretends not to tear this country because of personal greed and power,” Pretzker posted on X on Wednesday.
There was little outward support for Trump’s plan in Chicago.
Johnson and Pretz Car It repeatedly pointed out the city’s decline in crime, and instead sought more federal funding for prevention programs.
Echo a tendency In other major US cities, violent crime in Chicago has declined significantly overall, but remains a persistent problem in some cities.
President Donald Trump will talk about the Washington event on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, regarding the relocation of the White House’s US Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Mexican Independence Day Celebration Dampers
Chicago has a large Mexican community, and the threat of military deployment and immigration crackdown has dampened Mexican Independence Day celebrations planned for the next two weeks.
Organizers have admitted that some people may be at home with the threat of immigrant arrests, but they are boosting security measures and inviting more allies. It’s a similar tactic that activists have tried Annual protestwhen the fear of public gatherings was also high.
Teresa Fraga, who hosts the event in the city’s Pilsen area of Mexico, said the event hired more security, lawyers and nearby patrols.
“It’s a dark cloud hanging above our heads,” she said. “But we are planning a safe event.”
Worrying in the black neighborhood
There is also high concern in many of the city’s black neighborhoods, with organizations busy advising residents on whether they need to interact with law enforcement.
Dozens of Black churches are planning to take part in this weekend’s Resistance Sunday to spread information about traffic stops and other legal rights during encounters.
“We need resources, not the military,” said Pastor Marshall Hatch, a well-known civil rights activist. “We are not interested in this military charade.”
Johnson and other black mayors have called for racist targets in Trump’s Democratic city. And cards often use it Racist tales of urban crime When we talk about the unprecedented development of the military in the country’s capital.
“The president’s threat to send federal forces to Chicago is a clear and blatant attack on black and immigrant communities,” Chicago’s Alliance against racist and political oppression said in a statement.
City schools prepare
The Chicago public school system proposed creating phone trees for families to quickly share information and organizing walk-to-school groups to “provide safety with numbers.”
“We know that the potential for an increased federal government presence is creating anxiety and fear about safety and safety in schools within a wider community,” Chicago Public Schools wrote in a letter to parents.
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union were planning to distribute materials to schools this week with legal rights and tips for creating a buddy system for school commutes.
