'I'm Afraid': Officials, Residents React To Possible ICE Raids In Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) -- "I'm afraid just thinking of Sunday," said one woman, who identified herself as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico and prefers to conceal her identity.
She says she has lived in Chicago for 24 years with her children and is now worried about potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in her neighborhood.
But, she told her family they will not be intimidated.
"This is your country and this the best country for you," she said. "We need to stay here and fight."
Alderman, Carlos Ramirez and Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez distributed "know your rights flyers" outside a CTA station Friday to inform people about the possible immigration raids that will start on Sunday in major cities like Chicago.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Friday that she has directed the police department to terminate ICE's access to CPD's database related to federal immigration enforcement activities. She said police will not cooperate with ICE.
President Donald Trump announced the raids ahead of his 2020 re-election launch Tuesday in Orlando.
"We are here as Albany park neighborhood, as representatives of immigrant community, to condemn Donald Trumps promise of immigration raids in communities like our own," Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th Ward.
Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia also denounced Trump's promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and says it's nothing but politics.
"For the president to say or for ICE to say that they're going after these individuals and that this is representative of the larger immigrant community that is somehow not compliant with the law is a distortion. This is mostly about politics," Garcia said.
However, president trump supporters say liberals are injecting fear in the community.
"You have little kids that are scared to go to school. You have people that are scared to go to work," Val Ojeda of the Trump Coalition said. "It's a real crying shame."
Lincoln Methodist Church in Pilsen has opened its doors to immigrants, saying the raids are immoral.
"We want the community to know you have the right to remain silent, and that anywhere that you are, house, work, school, church, the ICE agents absolutely need a warrant signed by a judge in order to enter," said church leader Sarah Walker. "We're calling on our congressmen and women to step up and introduce our right to family campaign bill that would protect parents and spouses of U.S. citizens and parents and spouses of Dreamers. We need a bill to stop the separation of our families."
ICE would not give specific information in regard to the raids but said the focus is on those who pose a danger to the country.