Chicago, Sep 8 (AP) As President Donald Trump considers broadening immigration raids and possibly deploying the National Guard, Chicago emerges as the latest battleground in the national debate on federal immigration policies and the extent of local compliance.
The Chicago Police Department faces a significant challenge: maintaining public safety in a city already under pressure while not appearing to collaborate closely with federal immigration authorities—a situation that could undermine community trust and provoke new protests.
Similar dilemmas have been faced by police departments in other major cities recently. In Los Angeles and Washington, DC, local police interactions with federal agents stirred public concern and, at times, eroded trust in local law enforcement.
Now, Chicago finds itself at a similar crossroads. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker opposes any National Guard deployment, while city officials prepare for the potential implications of an increased federal presence. Experts warn that the outcome could affect whether the Chicago police can retain credibility among immigrant communities likely to be targeted.
“What the Trump administration is doing here is engaging in federal policing in a way that strains relationships between state and local police, the federal government, and communities,” said Nayna Gupta, policy director at the American Immigration Council. “These standoffs and contentious practices erode public safety.”
Sanctuary City Conflicts Over Trump's administration, Chicago officials have reiterated the city's longstanding sanctuary policies. However, as fears of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions grow, the city's mayor has remained coy on how the police will handle tensions.
Chicago's policies prevent local police from inquiring about or detaining individuals based on their immigration status, as well as bar them from assisting ICE with activities such as raids, detaining migrants, or sharing information.
Mayor Brandon Johnson recently signed an executive order ensuring city police don't collaborate with federal immigration agents. It mandates Chicago officers to wear uniforms without masks, distinguishing them from federal agents.
“We won’t have our police deputised to conduct traffic stops and checkpoints for the president,” Johnson stated prior to signing the order.
Craig Futterman, a law professor at the University of Chicago, noted cooperation between ICE and local officers could harm public trust and blur agency responsibilities.
“It can get really messy,” Futterman said. “There’s how sanctuary cities are supposed to function on paper versus what occurs in reality.”
Caught Between Protesters and ICE Officials Gupta noted that Chicago police will inevitably need to coordinate with federal agencies to a certain extent, even in response to protests against immigration raids and detentions.
City officials state they’re using a policing strategy similar to the one planned for the 2024 Democratic National Convention, which cost around $27 million in officer overtime.
On June 4, ICE detained at least 10 Chicagoans at an immigration office, drawing protesters and local officials to the streets. Initially, police were unaware it was an immigration action and left once informed, officials reported.
Some protesters and local officials alleged seeing Chicago officers clearing paths for ICE agents and protecting their vehicles, prompting demands for an internal investigation by City Council members.
Similar tensions occurred in California, where protests against federal immigration authorities in June led Trump to deploy National Guard troops in Los Angeles, despite local opposition.
Los Angeles police made numerous arrests and dispersed demonstrations, including at locations where ICE conducted raids.
Sanctuary city policies “don’t imply a local police officer will intervene between an ICE officer and a non-citizen,” which could be obstruction of justice, said Rose Cuison-Villazor, a Rutgers University Law School professor.
Yet, the question of whether local officers can oppose federal agents’ interactions with protesters remains uncertain.
“Do they possess the authority to intervene?” Futterman asked. “These are complex legal issues. It’s a highly fraught situation.”
Local Police and National Guard Interactions Lack Clear Definition Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, DC, said local police are accustomed to collaborating with federal agencies on joint task forces addressing terrorism, drugs, or organized crime. However, the role of the National Guard in Chicago’s local policing remains undefined.
On Thursday, the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit to halt Trump’s deployment of the National Guard during his law enforcement intervention.
“Traditionally, the National Guard assists in natural disasters, large disturbances, and supports law enforcement in tasks like traffic and crowd control," Wexler explained. "I’m unaware of previous National Guard deployments to address everyday crime.”
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling has called for improved communication with federal authorities to prevent public panic and chaos on the streets.
In Philadelphia, District Attorney Larry Krasner argued that the National Guard deployment jeopardizes crime prosecutions, risking the dismissal of witness statements and evidence suppression.
“These individuals lack training in evidence collection, Miranda rights, and Fourth Amendment procedures related to illegal searches and seizures,” Krasner stated.
Kenneth Corey, a former New York City Police Department chief, cautioned that the influx of resources like the National Guard might lead to a temporary crime reduction.
“Ramping up resources causes an immediate crime reduction due to its deterrent effect,” Corey said, currently at the University of Chicago Crime Lab's Policing Leadership Academy. “But it’s short-term. Once they leave, crime recurs. The root causes remain unresolved.” (AP) SKS RD RD
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