Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday that he is “deeply concerned” ICE will target Mexican Independence Day events in Chicago this month.
The governor warned that “unidentifiable agents in unmarked vehicles with masks are planning to raid Latino communities and say they’re targeting violent criminals,” while noting that the timing of such a deployment could be intentional.
“We have reason to believe that Stephen Miller chose the month of September to come to Chicago because of celebrations around Mexican Independence Day that happen here every year,” Pritzker said at a news conference addressing reports that federal troops could be deployed in the area.
“It breaks my heart to report that we have been told ICE will try and disrupt community picnics and peaceful parades," he said. "Let’s be clear: The terror and cruelty is the point, not the safety of anyone living here.”
Several parades and festivals are scheduled to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, including the 24th annual parade in Pilsen on Sept. 16.
“We know what Stephen Miller wants to have happen with ICE is usually what happens, so we’re deeply concerned about it,” Pritzker said.
Mexican Independence Day event organizers recently spoke to NBC Chicago about how they’re preparing for the possible presence of specialized ICE tactical units at the events.
“They’re simply celebrating their heritage, they shouldn’t be interrupted in this way,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker held the news conference moments after President Donald Trump told reporters “we’re going in” when asked about a slew of rumors that the White House plans to send troops to Chicago to address crime.
“Rumors have been swirling about what the White House has planned, and sifting fact from fiction has been increasingly difficult because Donald Trump’s administration is not working in coordination with the city of Chicago, Cook County or the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said.
While no official announcement has been made, the Trump administration has reportedly been planning to send National Guard members to Chicago, similar to how they were deployed to Washington, D.C., last month.
Pritzker confirmed to NBC Chicago just hours before the news conference that ICE agents will be conducting enhanced immigration enforcement operations in the city in coming days.
“[They said] they will begin operations here sometime in the coming week,” Pritzker said in an interview. “That — literally after two weeks of all this talk about troops on the ground — that’s the first time we’ve heard from the federal government on this.”
Pritzker also said during the news conference that he believes staging for federal enforcement in Chicago has “already begun.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, speaking alongside Pritzker at the news conference Tuesday, said Trump is “worried about the wrong border.”
“We don’t have an immigration crisis in Chicago. We have a gun crisis,” Johnson said. “Violence in Chicago is not because we have too many immigrants. It’s because we have too many guns."
In anticipation of increased enforcement efforts, Johnson last week signed an executive order declaring that Chicago police will not collaborate with the military on police patrols or civil immigration enforcement.
Crime rose over the Labor Day weekend compared to last year; at least 58 people were shot, eight fatally, this year. Last Labor Day weekend, at least 42 people were shot and 10 killed, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
However, overall violent crime in the city, including homicides, is down year over year, according to city data.
