CHICAGO — As immigration protests swept through downtown Chicago this week, conservative reporter Ben Bergquam, a correspondent for Real America’s Voice, delivered a live report claiming ICE operations are not backing down despite growing public pressure.
Broadcasting from a crowded street surrounded by Palestinian flags and “Abolish ICE” signs, Bergquam said the agency remains firm and is intensifying enforcement, even as demonstrators flood city spaces.
“ICE is not stopping. They’re continuing. If anything, the resolve is getting stronger,” Bergquam stated live on Just The News, No Noise.
Sharp Criticism of Protesters: “Communists and Profiteers”
Bergquam went further in his commentary, taking aim at demonstrators by labeling them as ideologically driven or financially motivated.
“The only people that seem to be out here are the communists and the people who make money off of this,” he said, referring to the large group of pro-immigrant and pro-Palestinian protesters in downtown Chicago.
His remarks aired during a segment with Amanda Head and John Solomon, co-hosts of Just The News’ flagship news program.
Visuals from the segment showed hundreds of marchers, some with megaphones, others standing on vehicles waving flags — part of a citywide demonstration that coincided with reports of increased ICE presence in major urban hubs.
Tensions Rise Between Pro-Immigration and Pro-Enforcement Voices
Chicago has been the site of mounting ideological clashes over immigration, as rallies both in support of and against ICE enforcement have taken place within close proximity. Just this week, city police removed a lone counter-protester holding an “ICE is Welcome in Chicago” sign at Daley Plaza — a move that critics said raises concerns about selective free speech enforcement.
While city leaders have maintained sanctuary policies, federal law enforcement efforts have ramped up in Illinois following a national directive attributed to former President Donald Trump’s policy network.
ICE Activity Expected to Increase in Chicago
As of this week, multiple national outlets have reported that ICE is expanding personnel and operations in targeted urban areas, including Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. The move has ignited both fear and defiance among local organizers.
Bergquam, a frequent critic of immigration reform and open-border advocacy, praised the federal stance, asserting that federal agents are “doing the job local leaders refuse to support.”
His live report was met with mixed reactions online, with some applauding his call for stronger immigration enforcement, while others criticized his portrayal of demonstrators as extreme or economically exploitative.
Do you believe federal enforcement agencies like ICE are operating fairly in sanctuary cities like Chicago? Or do these protest crackdowns reflect broader political suppression?
Join the conversation — and stay informed with full-spectrum reporting on immigration, free speech, and civic demonstrations at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
