The Trump administration allowed federal immigration authorities to target schools and churches.
Schools and places of worship were previously designated as off-limits, but with Trump’s second term starting, teachers from Chicago Public Schools and religious leaders are gearing up to protect their students and congregants as the threat of immigration agents potentially arriving becomes a reality.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense,” a DHS spokesperson said.
According to ABC 7 Chicago, activists and elected officials are canvassing neighborhoods like Pilsen and Little Village, informing residents about their rights if ICE comes knocking.
“Know Your Rights” campaigns will be held at Pilsen’s Perez Elementary School every Tuesday, starting next week, since it was canceled due to the weather this week.
In a statement released on Monday, the Chicago Police Department said, “The Chicago Police Department does not assist federal immigration authorities in enforcement actions based solely on immigration status. Additionally, the CPD does not document individuals’ immigration status and does not share this information with federal authorities.”
Chicago police made it clear that they will not intervene in immigration enforcement, but they will continue to enforce the law if a crime occurs, regardless of citizenship status.
