(The Center Square) – The city of Chicago is doubling down on the city’s migrant sanctuary status ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
During public comments at Chicago’s city council meeting Wednesday, a resident from a group calling themselves Chicago Conservative criticized Democrat priorities.
“This won’t stop at illegals. Our babies will continue to be victims of crime, murder and things like drugs, gangs, if you vote the Democratic party in,” he said. “You care more about illegals than the people of Chicago. We are from here. You prioritize them more than us. What are you doing, man?”
Aldermen blocked a measure to relax the city’s sanctuary policies. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city is ready to stand in the way of Trump’s efforts.
“You saw today the reaffirming of the welcoming city ordinance,” Johnson said at a news conference after the city council meeting. “I think the entire state of Illinois, we’re all on the same page as it relates to protecting residents.”
Chicago Deputy Mayor Beatrice Ponce de León said the city is focusing on policies to stifle deportation efforts at various city shelters.
“There are certain things that you want to ensure that it is in fact an [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agent that is approaching you, there are ways to verify that,” Ponce de León said. “We ask for a federal judicial warrant. This is all information that is really public knowledge.”
At an unrelated event Wednesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his administration is talking to clergy members and hospitals, but doesn’t want to reveal anything in particular.
“I wouldn’t want to tell the folks who are executing on policies that don’t make any sense for the state of Illinois how they can be more effective in effectuating them,” Pritzker said.
Trump has promised to deport criminal non-citizen migrants in the country. His border czar, Tom Homan, has said Chicago will be ground zero for those efforts.
