Two Chicago aldermen have introduced a proposal to modify the city’s sanctuary law, arguing that the changes would enhance public safety by permitting limited collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities in certain criminal cases. However, the proposal faces strong opposition from the city council, which is predominantly liberal.
The Center Square reports:
Aldermen Raymond Lopez and Silvana Tabares say their proposed amendment to the Welcoming City Ordinance would allow the city to work with federal immigration officers. Lopez said the measure would only apply when an individual has been arrested for or convicted of gang crimes, drug crimes, prostitution-related activities such as human trafficking, or sex crimes involving minors.
“The goal of this amendment to our Welcoming City Ordinance is to keep people safe: to keep our citizens safe and to keep the undocumented, who are just following the law and awaiting their time until they can legalize their status, safe by removing those individuals who are here choosing, with emphasis on ‘choosing,’ to engage in certain, specific, illegal activities here in the city of Chicago,” Lopez told The Center Square.
In 2021, under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago revised the ordinance to remove all exceptions to its sanctuary policy. Previously, the law allowed limited cooperation with ICE in cases involving criminal warrants, felony convictions, or gang affiliations. The revisions passed with overwhelming support, reaffirming Chicago’s commitment to being a sanctuary city.
Trump’s incoming border czar, former ICE Chief Tom Homan, has vowed to crack down on sanctuary cities by deploying additional agents and holding local officials accountable for “harboring fugitives.” Despite this, Lopez maintains that the proposal is apolitical and prioritizes public safety.
Chicago’s leftwing leaders have vowed to resist Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration despite begging the Biden White House for help as their services have been overwhelmed by migrants.
The Windy City has received over 50,000 new arrivals since 2022, Mayor Brandon Johnson has labeled Trump as a tyrant and argued that the city’s police force is already overburdened without taking on the task of aiding in the apprehension of immigrants convicted of serious crimes.
“We’re not going to bend or break or cower to someone’s threat,” Johnson told reporters after the election. “We’re going to stand up and unite around our shared values, and (residents) have my assurance that I’m going to protect the families of this city.”
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Chicago government’s “shared values” are to allow as many illegals in as possible, illegally register them to vote, and hopefully get a permanent Democrat majority that will make it the authoritarian ruler of the nation permanently. It’s easy for them: They ban all voter ID, then anyone who walks in can vote.
BTW, I thought federal law supersedes state or local laws. How can these sanctuary cities get away with not cooperating with ICE? I guess we’ll see after Jan. 20!