Chicagoans Living in Fear as Trump's Mass Deportation Campaign Targets the City's Working Class
In the age of President Donald Trump, where the government has become a tool for punishment, Chicago has become the focal point of his wrath. The city's working-class individuals, who are not well-known but are everyday people caught in the crossfire of Trumpism's "friends and enemies" distinction, have fallen victim to his mass deportation campaign.
At O'Hare International Airport, Border Patrol agents swarmed rideshare lots, arresting 11 people under the guise of targeting "illegal aliens." The city's restaurants, where food vendors are hiding, and its laborers, who are losing their jobs due to fear of deportation, have become collateral damage in Trump's war on immigration. Even schools, churches, courthouses, and other sanctuary zones have not been spared from the wrath of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Chicago has seen over 1,000 people arrested or "de facto disappeared" under Operation Midway Blitz, a campaign that has left the city reeling. The constitutional crisis sparked by Trump's actions is real and has already led to warnings from public figures. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker cautioned that Trump's threats of using the military against Chicago could lead to suspending the 2026 midterms and ending American democracy.
The administration's latest move, announcing plans for the Justice Department to monitor polling sites in Democratic-led states ahead of the November election, has raised concerns about voter suppression. Trump has also threatened to have Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson put in jail if they do not cooperate with his mass deportation campaign.
Experts say that Trump's actions are a direct result of his desire for power and control. Paul Gowder, a constitutional law specialist, notes that the president's use of troops relies on an outdated premise that there is widespread unrest, which is simply not true. Gowder also highlights the striking parallel between Trump's mass deportation campaign and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, where resources were poured into enforcing laws opposed by the population.
For those marked as enemies – immigrants, activists, and anyone who dares to challenge Trump's authority – life has become a daily struggle with anxiety, fear, and terror. The question "Am I next?" haunts them every day. But it is precisely this kind of resistance that gives hope. As law professor Craig Futterman puts it, everyday people are using their constitutional rights to push back against the Trump administration's authoritarian power grab.
In Chicago, ordinary people have come together to say, "Not in our city." They are standing tall and proclaiming their love for America, refusing to be intimidated by Trump's threats. As Futterman says, "America is alive."
In the age of President Donald Trump, where the government has become a tool for punishment, Chicago has become the focal point of his wrath. The city's working-class individuals, who are not well-known but are everyday people caught in the crossfire of Trumpism's "friends and enemies" distinction, have fallen victim to his mass deportation campaign.
At O'Hare International Airport, Border Patrol agents swarmed rideshare lots, arresting 11 people under the guise of targeting "illegal aliens." The city's restaurants, where food vendors are hiding, and its laborers, who are losing their jobs due to fear of deportation, have become collateral damage in Trump's war on immigration. Even schools, churches, courthouses, and other sanctuary zones have not been spared from the wrath of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Chicago has seen over 1,000 people arrested or "de facto disappeared" under Operation Midway Blitz, a campaign that has left the city reeling. The constitutional crisis sparked by Trump's actions is real and has already led to warnings from public figures. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker cautioned that Trump's threats of using the military against Chicago could lead to suspending the 2026 midterms and ending American democracy.
The administration's latest move, announcing plans for the Justice Department to monitor polling sites in Democratic-led states ahead of the November election, has raised concerns about voter suppression. Trump has also threatened to have Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson put in jail if they do not cooperate with his mass deportation campaign.
Experts say that Trump's actions are a direct result of his desire for power and control. Paul Gowder, a constitutional law specialist, notes that the president's use of troops relies on an outdated premise that there is widespread unrest, which is simply not true. Gowder also highlights the striking parallel between Trump's mass deportation campaign and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, where resources were poured into enforcing laws opposed by the population.
For those marked as enemies – immigrants, activists, and anyone who dares to challenge Trump's authority – life has become a daily struggle with anxiety, fear, and terror. The question "Am I next?" haunts them every day. But it is precisely this kind of resistance that gives hope. As law professor Craig Futterman puts it, everyday people are using their constitutional rights to push back against the Trump administration's authoritarian power grab.
In Chicago, ordinary people have come together to say, "Not in our city." They are standing tall and proclaiming their love for America, refusing to be intimidated by Trump's threats. As Futterman says, "America is alive."
this mass deportation campaign in Chicago is literally terrifying ordinary people who don't even know they're targets 
it's like living in a war zone where you can get picked up at the airport or at your job for not being documented 
and trump's plan to monitor polling sites in democratic states ahead of the election is just voter suppression on steroids 
i'm so worried about what's gonna happen next 
The fact that they're arresting people at O'Hare airport and restaurants is just crazy 
I'm so glad there are people like Craig Futterman standing up for their rights and pushing back against Trump's authoritarian power grab 
It's giving me hope that we can make a difference and fight for what's right 
The fact that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is warning about Trump's threats to use the military against Chicago is super scary 
We need to stand together as one people and reject this kind of fear-mongering 
They're scared to even leave their houses, 'cause they don't know if ICE is gonna come knockin' 
. I mean, what's next? Are we gonna start seein' checkpoints on every corner? It's like somethin' outta a movie, you know? 
Those churches and schools are just tryin' to do their thing, but Trump's all like "Nope, I'm comin' in here" 
. It's like he's forgettin' that America's supposed to be a land of freedom and whatnot 
. He's tryin' to scare people, make 'em think they're in danger, so he can keep his grip on the country 
. But you know what? I think it's gonna backfire 
. I mean, there are so many good folks out there who won't let Trump get away with this stuff 
We gotta say "Not in our city" just like they are 
. America's still alive, and we're not gonna let some dude with a bad haircut bring us down 
.
. 1,000 people arrested or "de facto disappeared"? That's just plain wrong, man. What's Trump tryin' to do, create a climate of fear? It's like he thinks we're all just gonna sit around and wait for our numbers to be called, like some kinda dystopian novel 
.
and it's having real people suffer 
i'm so tired of hearing about these arrests and deportations, can't we just focus on building up our communities instead of tearing them down? 
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... I mean, who needs a diverse workforce or cultural exchange when you can just send everyone back to where they came from? It's not like Chicago's working-class individuals are contributing to the economy or anything. And those restaurants hiding food vendors? Just keeping it real by selling authentic Mexican cuisine to locals only 
️. The whole sanctuary zones thing is just a bunch of people trying to hide from their own responsibilities and lack of immigration paperwork 
. But at the same time, I'm also kinda inspired by all the people coming together to say, "Not in our city" 
. We need more of this resistance, not less! 
11 people got arrested at o'hare airport just cuz of rideshare lol how does that even work? 
. It's not just people who are losing their jobs or homes, but also the sense of safety and security that everyone deserves. I mean, 11 arrests at O'Hare airport? That's crazy! 
. That's not how we build a nation, folks! We need to be more inclusive and compassionate, not divided and fearful 
. It's amazing to see people using their constitutional rights to fight for what they believe in 
! Let's show Trump that we won't be intimidated by his threats and that we'll keep fighting for our rights, our dignity, and our humanity 
its got me thinking about how easy it is to get caught up in the rhetoric of hate and division when everyone just wants to live their lives without fear of persecution 
. I'm so tired of this fear and anxiety that's spreading through the city 
. I'm worried about the working-class folks, they're already struggling to make ends meet... now they gotta be afraid of getting caught? It's like, what's next? The US government is always playing with fire 
, and it's only a matter of time before things get outta hand.
. if trump thinks he can just threaten ppl into silence, he's got another thing comin'