CHICAGO (AP) — Pastor Marshall Hatch urged congregations of prominent black churches on the west of Chicago to identify, stay connected with their families and protest as the city prepares. Expected federal intervention.
“You won’t disappear because you need to tell people about where you are,” Hatch said at Sunday service at Newmount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church. “We are not going to despair. We don’t feel threatened. We are not going to give up on fascism and authoritarianism and give in.”
As Chicago Brace Citywide churches have raised responses from the pulpit on immigration enforcement crackdowns and the possibility of the deployment of the National Guard. Some worked to suppress fears about detention and deportation, while others addressed the looming possibility of more law enforcement on the streets of the country’s third largest city.
President Donald Trump threatened federal intervention in Democratic bases, recently warned Apocalyptic power It can be used to fight crime and strengthen deportation in Chicago. He repeatedly quoted plans that were more anticipated than fierce objections from Local leader and Many residents Who calls it unnecessary and undesirable.
meanwhile The fear was high Since Trump took office for the second time, more federal agencies and military threats have also been inflamed in immigration circles. Trust in the police It’s fragile.
Among the church attendees was Leicester Burks, a 74-year-old US military veteran whom military presence in Chicago said would threaten him.
“I don’t want soldiers here,” he said. “They are trained to fight.”
The details of the expected intervention are sparse, including when it is expected to focus and start. Trump border emperor Tom Homan said federal law enforcement measures will arrive in Chicago this week on Sunday in CNN’s “coalition status.” He also promised more workplace enforcement businesses, such as large ones. Hyundai plants In Georgia.
“You can expect action in most sanctuary cities across the country,” he said.
The Trump administration has repeatedly targeted it I couldn’t sue Over Chicago’s Sanctuary Law, this is the most powerful thing in the country. His administration launched a National Immigration Enforcement Project City in January.
There is no official definition Sanctuary Policy or Sanctuary City. This condition generally explains the limitations of on-site cooperation with immigration and customs enforcement. ICE enforces US immigration laws nationwide, but sometimes they seek help from their states and locals.
This time, the Ministry of Homeland Security Military bases north of the city They also warn another suburban leader that they will use federal immigration processing centres there to run their business It will potentially last for 45 days. Meanwhile, Trump said he might send the National Guard New Orleans In front of Chicago.
Trump is already deploying the National Guard Los Angeles and Washington DC. , he is also federated police. A federal judge ruled that Los Angeles will develop illegal.
Most of Chicago’s nearly three million people are black or Latino. Newmount Pilgrim is located in the city’s Westgarfield Park neighborhood. This is in largely black neighborhoods facing persistent crime and long-standing investment, including five schools that were closed as part of the biggest in 2013. Large public closure In American history.
Churches have often sought action against street violence, even as Chicago’s violent crime rate. It’s dropped As part of the recent years, Nationwide trends. Its large stained glass art installation depicts the lives of slaves and commemorates black people killed by violence. On Sunday, the church celebrated the groundbreaking groundbreaking at the nearby Arts and Activities Center.
“We don’t want the military, we want resources,” Hatch told the congregation. “We know there is a correlation between resources and violence.”
Elsewhere in the city, other churches have worked to remind people of their rights when it comes to interactions with immigration agents and urged them to carry the necessary documents.
Many people in Chicago were familiar with the expected operations, and many others were familiar with the Insert the damper The city is usually a Mexican Independence Day celebration. Church leaders said the January immigration campaign in Chicago had a calm effect on attending Latinos churches, where people are immigrants, when they are home.
The clergy said they are preparing the same in the coming weeks.
“It feels like anything can happen anytime,” said Pastor Paco Amador, of New Life Community Church, which is mainly located in a small village in Mexico. “It would be irresponsible not to talk about this.”
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Associated Press Writer Calvin Woodward contributed to this report from Washington.
