Activists say immigration enforcement increased as Chicago waits for promised federal intervention
September 15, 2025
Activists in Chicago’s immigrant rights network say there’s been a noticeable uptick in immigration enforcement in recent days as the nation’s third-largest city awaits federal intervention repeatedly promised by President Donald Trump. While there’s no evidence of large-scale arrests or aggressive tactics used in Los Angeles, activists say there’s been a spike in arrests in immigrant-heavy city neighborhoods and far flung suburbs of Chicago. Immigration officers are focused on isolated traffic stops and there’s been an increased presence of them at local courthouses.