A tense situation unfolded on Wednesday afternoon in the South Loop of Chicago as immigrant advocates reported that over a dozen individuals, who attended what they believed to be a standard immigration check-in, were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
ABC7 Chicago was present at the scene as a significant crowd gathered outside an ICE-related office located in the 2200-block of South Michigan Avenue.
According to an immigration attorney, those detained had received text messages directing them to come in to review their cases. However, upon their arrival, they were promptly placed into ICE custody, contradicting the expectations of a routine appointment.
Witnesses observed more than a dozen detainees being escorted away by agents, who appeared to be from ICE, into two waiting vans. The faces of those arrested were blurred in coverage, as the outlet was unaware of any charges they might face.
In a statement to ABC7 I-Team, ICE remarked that “those arrested had executable final orders of removal by an immigration judge and had not complied with that order.”
Immigration advocates expressed their discontent with the government’s actions, noting that many of the detained individuals were migrants living in the U.S. without legal permission. They typically check in at the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) office as part of their process for remaining in the country.
The ISAP system is designed to monitor individuals after they have been released from ICE custody while they await court proceedings regarding their immigration status.
Compounding the distress, Abuelo, a man who had dropped off friends including a Guatemalan mother of three, recounted what he viewed as a betrayal of trust. He stated they had gone inside for a routine check as planned.
“We don’t know where they are right now,” he lamented, explaining that the detainees’ phones were taken and turned off upon entry into the office.
Immigration attorney Cynthia Fernandez shared that she had received last-minute text messages from ISAP instructing undocumented individuals to attend the office for their cases. She described a rather alarming scene, stating that when her client was taken into a separate room, she was prevented from entering, despite her status as the immigration attorney of record.
Fernandez ultimately learned that her client had been placed into ICE custody, expressing her concern over the sudden nature of the detentions.
In response to the situation, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez of Illinois’ 3rd District sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), denouncing these tactics as insidious methods that undermine constitutional rights and the rule of law.
As panic and frustration swelled, 35th Ward Alderman Anthony Quezada and 33rd Ward Alderwoman Rosanna Rodriguez Sanchez attempted to shield an ICE van from entering a nearby lot by sitting on the ground in protest.
Onlookers shouted “shame” as agents transported the detainees outside and into vans, with many visibly emotional as the vehicles departed.
While the Chicago Police Department arrived at the scene, they reported having no knowledge of any ICE activity and defended their position of not participating in the arrests.
CPD reassured that their presence was solely to ensure safety at the demonstration, emphasizing that they did not assist in any immigration enforcement efforts.
What remains unclear is where the detained individuals were taken and what the next steps will entail for them.
The events of the day underscored a growing tension surrounding immigration enforcement practices and the deep feelings of concern among community members, advocacy groups, and local leaders.
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