Aldermen Raymond Lopez and Silvana Tabares have introduced legislation to amend Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance, aiming to allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities when migrants are involved in serious criminal activities. The proposal marks a shift from the city’s strict sanctuary policies but faces strong opposition in a liberal-dominated city council and resistance from Mayor Brandon Johnson.
The proposed amendment seeks to restore provisions removed in January 2021 under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The current ordinance prohibits any cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), even in cases involving migrants with criminal convictions, felony charges, or gang affiliations. Lopez and Tabares argue this approach endangers law-abiding immigrants by failing to address high-priority criminal cases.
Lopez stated that failing to notify ICE about criminal migrants risks exposing other undocumented residents to collateral deportation during federal enforcement operations. “Our goal is to protect those that deserve our protection: those undocumented and non-citizen residents of Chicago that follow the law and contribute positively to our city,” he said.
Despite their efforts, the amendment faces an uphill battle. When Lopez and Tabares proposed a similar measure in September 2023, it failed to gain traction or even receive a committee hearing. The city council remains overwhelmingly supportive of the 2021 ordinance, which passed with a 41-8 vote.
Mayor Johnson has reaffirmed his commitment to Chicago’s sanctuary status following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. Johnson has vowed to resist Trump’s deportation plans, even as local law enforcement reports that violent gang members, including those from Tren de Aragua, have infiltrated the city.
Trump’s incoming administration, led by former ICE chief Tom Homan as the newly appointed border czar, plans aggressive immigration enforcement. Homan has pledged to deploy additional ICE agents to sanctuary cities like Chicago and conduct large-scale deportation operations.
The aldermen plan to use a procedural maneuver to force a council vote on their amendment Wednesday. While the measure is unlikely to pass, Lopez and Tabares maintain that addressing criminal elements within the migrant population is essential for public safety and the protection of law-abiding immigrants.
