Gov. Pritzker warns of ‘terrible plans’ as ICE ramps up in Chicago, more than 200 agents expected in city at some point

CHICAGO (WGN) — With ICE’s “Operation Midway Blitz” now underway and Chicago’s immigrant community on guard, local leaders are working to remind people of their rights.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday he thinks ICE will have more than 200 agents on the ground at some point, with more than 100 vehicles standing by, as the stepped-up immigration crackdown begins.

“Here’s what we do know: ICE is somewhere on the ground here,” Pritzker said. “They already have been effectuating their plans. We have not seen the bulk of those ICE agents yet in communities, but we have seen some.”

Immigrant rights groups and elected leaders issued a warning to the community Tuesday, the governor saying he’s worried for Illinois and that federal agents have “terrible plans” for communities.

“People are frankly afraid in our communities,” Pritzker said. “They’re afraid to come out of their homes, they’re afraid to go shopping, they’re afraid to take their own children to school.”

On Tuesday, the Trump administration’s border czar, Tom Homan, confirmed to reporters that additional boots are the ground in Chicago, with President Donald Trump increasing his focus on the city in recent weeks.

“We’ve got more resources in Chicago,” Homan said. “We know they’re releasing public safety threats back into the community every day. We’ll go where the biggest problems are. The biggest problems are sanctuary cities.”

Homan also insisted that ICE operations are targeting criminals.

“We’re prioritizing public safety threats and national security threats,” he said. “We’re not out sweeping neighborhoods, and we’re not out looking for non-criminals.”

However, WGN Investigates found that 70% of people currently in ICE custody nationally don’t have a criminal conviction.

Pritzker, meanwhile, met with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights on Tuesday afternoon at the National Museum of Mexican Art.

“The reason that Tom Homan, the reason that Donald Trump, the reason that so many people are upset and want to attack Chicago, is because we’re winning,” Pritzker said.

The nationwide legal battle continues, however.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a judge’s order prohibiting federal agents in Los Angeles from questioning people about their immigration status based solely on their ethnicity, clearing the way for federal enforcement to continue aggressive immigration sweeps.

“We know the Supreme Court decision (Monday) that, frankly, takes away rights from people across the United States is something that Tom Homan cheers,” Pritzker said.

But Homan insists his federal agents respect constitutional rights.

“ICE agents aren’t racially profiling,” he said. “The law says you’ve got to establish a reasonable suspicion to detain and question somebody.”

ICE’s stepped-up immigration crackdown led to a protest rally downtown Tuesday night, with a number of coalitions and local groups marching from Congress Plaza Garden to Trump Tower and back.