ICE rolled out “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago yesterday. News media reported federal troops had been positioned at Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago for more than a week, and the president announced his plans to kick off their activities in Chicago on Mexican Independence Day, Sept. 16. Obviously he couldn’t wait, impulsive dolt that he is.

Like all Democratic U.S. House members in the Chicagoland area, Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois’ 9th Congressional District is preparing constituents for increased federal immigration enforcement activities. Rep. Schakowsky wrote this helpful letter, which she sent in her congressional newsletter the same day.

President Donald Trump even considering deploying the National Guard to Chicago is outrageous and is nothing but political theater. We are a hardworking community made up of workers, families, and organizers.

This is not the first time Trump has used the National Guard as a political weapon. We all remember when he ordered a militarized crackdown on our nation’s capital in 2020 and then failed to deploy the National Guard on January 6, 2021, Washington, D.C.’s most lawless and violent day. 

Now, five years later, we are seeing history repeat itself, this time, under the guise of a public safety emergency. Crime rates in Chicago have gone down. Our communities need investment, not intimidation. Sending troops into our neighborhoods will not help public safety, it will only escalate tensions.

We are a nation of immigrants and our diversity is our greatest strength. It is crucial that you KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. Stay informed so that you can protect yourself and your loved ones. Please go to my website for more info or call my office, (773) 506-7100, if you need assistance.

No American city should be ruled through force, surveillance, and intimidation. We will not stand by as our city is used to score political points. Chicagoans do not want, or need, our city turned into a military state.

Be well,

Click here for a link to help you know your rights.