Statement of the Latino Caucus on Threats of Immigration Agents and National Guard in Chicago

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2025

CHICAGO – As Latino leaders representing Illinois communities, we stand united against the recent escalation of immigrant enforcement tactics and the looming threat of federal military deployment in Chicago. The proposal to deploy National Guard troops and immigration agents during Mexican Independence Day and beyond has already spread fear, causing postponements like Fiestas Patrias in Waukegan and raising anxiety about raids at El Grito in Grant Park and parades in Pilsen, Little Village, and the South Chicago Parade.

We are proud of our heritage, culture, and traditions, and we will not allow intimidation or militarized enforcement to silence or erase them. These celebrations are a reflection of the vibrancy, resilience, and contributions of the Latino community in Chicago and across the state. We stand firmly against any form of immigration enforcement that seeks to divide families, disrupt our neighborhoods, or criminalize our identity.

Our communities deserve resources, not repression. We reaffirm our commitment to the strong immigrant protections enshrined in Illinois law, particularly through the TRUST Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from distributing individuals based on ICE detainer requests without judicial warrants and designates safe spaces for all residents, regardless of status.

We call upon federal authorities to cease these militarized and oppressive tactics immediately and instead work with local stakeholders to invest in community led solutions including youth programming, mental health services, educational opportunities, and violence prevention that address root causes of instabilityrather than deepening fear.

To our communities: remember, you are not alone. Know your rights, stay alert, and connect with trusted legal and advocacy services. We call on everyone to protect one another in their communities and workplaces and join their local community based organizations, labor unions, and mutual aid groups to resist Trump’s deportation regime and authoritarian policies. As the Latino Caucus has previously emphasized: El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido — a united people will never be defeated.

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