The Chicago City Council voted to reject a proposal that would have allowed city police to cooperate more closely with federal immigration enforcement, citing concerns about due process and potential conflicts with state law.
The Chicago City Council voted to reject a proposal that would have allowed city police to cooperate more closely with federal immigration enforcement on Wednesday. Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) and Silvia Tabares (23rd Ward) initiated the proposal to amend the city's so-called Welcoming City Ordinance. While Lopez introduced the change, Ald. Jessica Fuentes (36th Ward) successfully moved to table the issue, effectively ending the proposal.
Lopez and Tabares had first proposed the change back in 2023. The existing ordinance limits the Chicago Police Department's cooperation with federal law enforcement officials. Council members who supported the change argued that allowing police to report individuals involved in serious criminal activity would ultimately enhance safety within immigrant communities. They contended that without local assistance, federal agents might conduct raids targeting entire communities, leading to unintended and harmful deportations. However, opponents of altering the current law maintained that keeping local officers largely uninvolved in immigration enforcement fosters trust between immigrant communities and the police. This proposed change arises amid President-elect Donald Trump's imminent return to office after pledging to deport millions of undocumented immigrants nationwide. Chicago has also experienced a significant influx of migrants and asylum seekers since late 2022, when southern state governors began transporting them to Democratic-controlled cities. This influx has strained the city's resources. The proposed change sparked strong opposition, including concerns about potential constitutional violations. Critics argued that the change could lead to breaches of due process protections. The Illinois Attorney General's Office also expressed reservations, stating that the amendment would create potential conflicts with state law, raise significant due process concerns, and could result in unintended consequences such as racial profiling. A spokesperson for the attorney general emphasized that state law does not prohibit Chicago police from collaborating with federal law enforcement on criminal investigations
IMMIGRATION CHICAGO POLICE CITY COUNCIL FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
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