In the midst of escalating discord between the national government and Chicago's administration over the expulsion of criminal immigrants, a faction of the city's populace is advocating for more stringent immigration control.
This stance aligns them with the policies ardently promoted by President Donald Trump.
One such advocate is Vashon Tuncle, a Chicago inhabitant, who aired his grievances on "The Ingraham Angle," a program aired on Fox News. Tuncle expressed a sentiment of abandonment felt by many in his community, seemingly overlooked by local and state officials. "The people of Chicago, we love Trump," Tuncle declared. "The numbers spoke for themselves during the election we actually wanted Trump to come here."
Tuncle purports to speak for an expanding segment of Chicagoans who feel marginalized by leaders such as Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. Despite both politicians' opposition to federal deportation initiatives on humanitarian grounds, Tuncle contends they are shirking their responsibility to safeguard the city's inhabitants. "Brandon Johnson has sworn an oath to the people of Chicago that he must protect them. J.B. Pritzker has sworn an oath to the people of Illinois that he will protect us," he asserted. "They failed to do that because theyre continuously telling us that they will protect the illegal immigrants here, knowing that theyre bringing all the drugs and crime here in our city."
The issue of immigration has ignited a firestorm in Chicago, with federal "border czar" Tom Homan pledging to make the city the epicenter of deportation efforts. His recent visit resulted in the expulsion of an individual with a criminal past dating back to the Obama administration. "He basically had a rap sheet of doing horrendous acts to children," Tuncle pointed out. "Why is this guy leaving now in 2025?"
Mayor Brandon Johnson has staunchly opposed federal intervention, reaffirming Chicago's status as a sanctuary city. "I'm standing with the full force of government today to demonstrate that Chicago is a welcoming city. Regardless of who is in the White House," Johnson proclaimed during a press conference last month. "Being a welcoming city just simply states that our local police department will not behave as federal agents. There's a clear separation of powers there."
However, Johnsons stance has not garnered unanimous support among city officials. Alderman Ray Lopez lambasted the mayor, accusing him of pandering to "hyper-liberal White progressives" while disregarding the concerns of Black, Latino, and undocumented communities. "Hes not concerned about African-Americans, hes not concerned about Latinos, and hes absolutely not concerned about undocumented Mexicans who will bear the brunt of his actions," Lopez criticized. "He is playing the game of chicken with their lives, and it's disgusting."
Lopez recently proposed a measure to permit local law enforcement to assist ICE in detaining immigrants with criminal records, but the city council thwarted his efforts. Tuncle is of the belief that Johnson's policies do not echo the sentiments of a significant portion of Chicago residents. "People in this city are sick of it," he stated. "They absolutely cannot stand the illegal immigrants. I mean they're bringing drugs, theyre bringing crime, and all sorts of heinous acts. People are just sick of it. They love people like Tom Homan because theyre cleaning up the city."
Since August 2022, Chicago has become home to over 50,000 immigrants, as per city data. The "New Arrivals Mission," which provides housing, healthcare, and other services for these individuals, has cost the city upwards of half a billion dollars.
Despite the current state of affairs, Tuncle remains hopeful about future immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago, particularly with the appointment of Pam Bondi as the new U.S. Attorney General. "I'm also excited about Pam Bondi being confirmed as attorney general," he expressed. "It's looking like Brandon Johnson is going to be behind bars pretty soon."
In a dramatic turn of events, the Department of Justice has lodged a federal lawsuit against the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago, Governor Pritzker, and Mayor Johnson. The suit alleges that they are obstructing federal immigration law and impeding cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement.
The lawsuit asserts that Illinois and Cook County laws represent an "intentional effort to obstruct the Federal Governments enforcement of federal immigration law and to impede consultation and communication between federal, state, and local law enforcement officials that is necessary for federal officials to carry out federal immigration law and keep Americans safe."
Bondi has also instructed the Justice Department to suspend funding for sanctuary cities like Chicago, her memo stating, "The Department of Justice will ensure that, consistent with law, sanctuary jurisdictions do not receive access to Federal funds from the Department."
As the legal battle ensues, Chicago remains sharply divided on immigration, with a segment of residents clamoring for stricter enforcement while city leaders steadfastly defend the city's sanctuary status. The city's future hangs in the balance, with the outcome of this legal battle likely to shape its immigration policy for years to come.
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