CHICAGO — ICE Tactical Teams Ordered to Prepare for Action in the City, Mayor Confirms
City officials on Wednesday confirmed the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactical teams to Chicago, part of a broader federal initiative under the Trump administration targeting Democratic-led cities amid rising immigration tensions.
Speaking at a press briefing, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chief of Staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas acknowledged the administration gave ICE personnel a 48-hour readiness notice for possible local operations.
“There will be tactical teams, mini-tanks, other tools they use in which they plan to do raids, as we saw in Los Angeles,” said Pacione-Zayas, referencing heavily armed federal teams clad in riot gear with chemical agents already active in California.
Chicago joins four other Democratic cities included in this federal deployment, which has sparked widespread backlash and legal action in California.
Mayoral Coordination and Community Pushback
Mayor Johnson shared that he is in ongoing coordination with Governor JB Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to assess and respond to the federal escalation.
“It’s going to take all of us to stand firm to make sure our democracy is intact,” said Johnson.
The city had already been on edge after thousands marched in an anti-ICE demonstration on Tuesday, and another major protest — the nationwide “No Kings” march — is planned for Saturday at Daley Plaza.
These protests are tied to a wider movement against the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies, which include tactical raids and military presence in urban areas.
Federal Pressure Mounts After LA Deployment
The current deployment echoes last week’s developments in Los Angeles, where ICE raids resulted in dozens of arrests of undocumented immigrants in neighborhoods like Westlake and South LA. In response, President Trump ordered both the National Guard and U.S. Marines into the city, despite pushback from California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass.
Gov. Newsom has since filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its attempts to federalize California’s National Guard, calling the actions unconstitutional.
Illinois in the Spotlight as Governor Heads to D.C.
Pacione-Zayas confirmed that the ICE deployment notice came through official government channels and that Governor Pritzker is scheduled to testify before Congress on Thursday regarding Illinois’ sanctuary laws — legislation that protects undocumented residents from federal immigration enforcement.
The developments arrive during a volatile period of national protest and political unrest, and city leaders say they are preparing for additional public demonstrations over the weekend.
What are your thoughts on the federal deployment of ICE tactical teams to Chicago?
Are these moves justified in the name of national security, or do they risk undermining civil rights and local autonomy?
Drop your comments below — we want to hear from Chicago’s community.
