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* US Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Jonathan Jackson were denied a tour of the South Loop ICE office yesterday. Today, another group of Democratic US representatives was also denied entry…
I'm at the Broadview ICE Processing Center with my colleagues, trying to conduct oversight and we are being denied entry. We have reports that immigrants are being detained here without access to their attorneys, sleeping on the floor and without food. @repdeliaramirez… pic.twitter.com/rtC0zYrA6y
— Congressman Chuy García (@RepChuyGarcia) June 18, 2025
* The Tribune covered it…
Illinois Reps. Danny K. Davis, Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, Delia C. Ramirez and Jonathan Jackson were denied entry into the U.S. Immigration and Enforcement processing center in Broadview after being told they needed to make a request first with ICE.
“There is no regulation that requires us to give prior announcement or to schedule an appointment,” Garcia told the masked agent who came out to greet them. “We are here by our authority (as members of Congress) and we seek a meeting and an inspection of this facility.”
“I respect your request, but these are the instructions that we have,” the agent responded.
* House Speaker Mike Johnson is in Chicago today and visited the same ICE facility the Democratic lawmakers were turned away from. Fox News…
Reporter: Tell us first of all why you’re in Chicago on this mission?
Johnson: Well, we came here to make sure that these brave men and women that serve in ICE who are protecting our communities and upholding federal law, I want to make sure that they know that Republicans have their back. The president. Kristi Noem at Homeland Security, all the leadership, Tom Homan, we are all in this together and we want them to know that even though assaults on ICE officers have risen by 413 percent just in this recent period, Democrats are leading that. Republicans are on the opposite side. We are for the rule of law and for law enforcement, and we are doing everything we can to support them.
Reporter: Okay, we just heard from the governor. He calls it an ill-conceived mission. The mayor is very much against this. The governor also said, you’re going after the wrong individuals, and the wrong target. Is Chicago the next flash point after Los Angeles?
Johnson: Well, I tell you what, they’ve got a very difficult job here in this deep blue territory with a mayor who is on the wrong side of the law. And they’re doing everything they can. It’s a patriotic duty. They’re understaffed. They’re overwhelmed with the workload. They’re trying to go after the dangerous, criminal, illegal aliens that are in the country harming American citizens. The mayor of Chicago thinks that is an ill-conceived mission. What is he talking about? It’s madness. They have to do the job, and they need to do it better. We’re working on the one Big, Beautiful bill to allow them the resources that are desperately needed.
I mean, they are doing the job. The border is secured. We are locked down. We’re not allowing illegals into the country anymore, but the enforcement and removal of the dangerous people who got here is an essential task for our ICE agents and officers to take care of more facilities.
* But do people like Chicago resident Chao Zhou fit Johnson’s characterization of “dangerous”? Block Club Chicago…
Chao Zhou was arrested after a hearing in his asylum case, said his roommate, Liam Kincaid. “He got taken for doing the right thing,” Kincaid said. […]
[Zhou] has lived in the United States since 2019, Kincaid said. He left Hong Kong after participating in pro-democracy protests that pushed for political independence in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China.
Zhou, 31, attended the University of Washington on a student visa and earned his master’s degree in 2021. He’s had a political asylum case that he has worked on for the past few years. About a month ago, Zhou received a summons for a hearing in his case — leading to his arrest Thursday, Kincaid said. […]
If Zhou is sent back to China, “his safety’s not guaranteed,” [his roommate, Liam Kincaid] said. […]
Kincaid described Zhou as a very “low-key person” who spends a lot of his time working as a software developer. Zhou met his wife in the United States, but she now lives in Australia.
* Tribune…
On Monday, three U.S. citizens were detained by ICE after allegedly assaulting an officer in Chicago, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson.
In an interview Tuesday with the Tribune, Samuel Olson, ICE’s Chicago field office director, explained that “the last thing (the agents) want to do is to have to arrest somebody who’s assaulting them or impeding them from doing their jobs.” […]
On Monday around 9 a.m., about a dozen protesters stood outside immigration court at 55 E. Monroe St., according to Bianca Paiz, who was on her way to work. ICE agents entering the building, then started to take the three individuals into custody, Paiz recounted. The immigration agents wore masks and didn’t identify themselves, she said.
Paiz said the protesters did not resist arrest, and that the agents handcuffed them before forcing them into an unmarked vehicle. […]
ICE transported the protesters to a different federal building on West Ida B. Wells Drive in the Loop. Two of the individuals were released about three hours later, according to protesters.
* Hmm…
AP: "ICE is not supposed to take custody of U.S.-born citizens. While the immigration agency can occasionally get involved in cases of naturalized citizens who committed offenses such as lying on immigration forms, it has no authority over people born in the U.S." www.pbs.org/newshour/pol…
— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax.bsky.social) June 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
* Also from that Tribune story…
[Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Samuel Olson] emphasized that immigration detention is not punitive but meant to ensure court appearances, noting that detention space is limited and costly.
Except, as noted elsewhere, they’re detaining people at their court appearances.
* More…
* WGN | Congressman Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia condemns ICE raids: “By in far, the people being apprehended are not the worst of the worst. That’s what is so troubling by what’s going on in the country,” Garcia said. “They’ve come after immigrants, higher education, law firms. The only question is, who will be next?”
* CNN | DHS reverses course, allowing immigration raids to resume at farms, hotels, restaurants: ICE has been under tremendous pressure to meet White House-imposed quotas on immigration arrests. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told ICE officials last month that they needed to arrest at least 3,000 people a day. ICE has been averaging around 2,000 people a day. Trump has directed his ire at Democratic-led cities, calling on Sunday for ICE to “expand efforts” in “the Democrat Power Center.”
* Fortune | How retail giant Home Depot is preparing employees for ICE raids: Earlier this month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested day laborers outside of a Home Depot in a predominantly Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles. A separate protest also sprung up outside of a Home Depot location in a different part of the city the next day. Although the retailer does not contract with day laborers directly, the area outside of store property has long been a place for people to congregate in the hopes of finding work. In response to these raids, Home Depot has issued new guidance to employees about what they should do if ICE shows up, Bloomberg first reported. Home Depot confirms to Fortune that store employees are required to report any ICE-involved incident as soon as it happens. Workers across the chain have been reminded to avoid interactions with agents for their own safety. And regional store leaders at locations impacted by raids in Los Angeles are allowing workers who feel disturbed by the raid to leave for the day with full pay, although that is not a corporate-wide policy.
* WBEZ | Mayor Brandon Johnson warns Trump that Chicago has ‘to go as far as necessary’ to protect the Constitution: “Whatever is necessary. … We should all be committed to doing just that,” Johnson said in response to the remark at a City Hall news conference. “Whether it’s in the courts, whether it’s in the streets or with policy, we’re going to continue to defend and stand up for working people.” Johnson’s repeated, forceful rebuke of the president comes as his team continues to figure out how to fight back in the face of potential military presence.
posted by Isabel Miller
Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 11:40 am
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From Speaker Johnson: even though assaults on ICE officers have risen by 413 percent just in this recent period, Democrats are leading that.
Pure hatred right there. Only a Republican would say something so divisive and condescending toward 70 M American voters.
Comment by H-W Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 11:56 am
“A U.S. citizen was arrested in Florida for allegedly being in the country illegally”
Will Chicago put out a skin darkness warning? Should people carry their US passports? /s Anyone with olive or darker skin might be arrested as an undocumented person, citizen or not.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 12:06 pm
This whole mess is incredibly sad. Arresting people for no good reason. People who are minding their own business.
Where are the news stories about rapists and murderers being swept up in ICE raids? Instead ICE is going after cooks, landscapers, factory workers, hotel maids, etc.
And needless to say, harassing American citizens based on their appearance is just terrible.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 12:21 pm
The Trump admin has been doing so many disturbing things on so many fronts, it hard to keep track. The immigration “enforcement” is especially disturbing because it appears to violate the Constitution on so many points.
To those willing to waive those rights, what happens when ICE decides to grab and deport you? Because they have decided they do not need a warrant or to provide any due process, nothing you say or do can stop them from putting you on a plane and sending you to a random country. Add that to their unwillingness to even identify themselves, and the entire program is the most deeply disturbing thing I have seen in this country.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 12:21 pm
=== assaults on ICE officers have risen by 413 percent ===
1) Never trust a number provided by a MAGA politician or a Trump agency.
2) Based on videos I’ve seen, their definition of assault seems overly broad. Compare that to the MAGA sanctioned assault on the police defending the Capitol.
3) Consider the volume of arrests and increased number of uncivil ICE agents going into a large number of locations.
4) Genuine assaults on officers (using that term losing for these secret police squads) is bad, but these people are also unjustly assaulting people legitimately questioning the legality of the detainments (I can’t call these arrests without knowing they’re legal).
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 12:21 pm
All I want to know is whether or not Mike Johnson receives his paycheck courtesy of taxpayers in hard cash, he doesn’t appear to have direct deposit activated.
Comment by Macon Deliberations Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 12:27 pm
= We are for the rule of law and for law enforcement, and we are doing everything we can to support them.=
The capitol police would like a word Mike.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 12:37 pm
Rules for thee and not for me.
Comment by VK Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 12:39 pm
= We are for the rule of law and for law enforcement, and we are doing everything we can to support them.=
Does Speaker Johnson find “the rule of law” to include things like following the Bill of Rights? Specifically, Amendments 1, 4, & 5? It would be a nice follow-up for a reporter to ask.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 12:42 pm
===Will Chicago put out a skin darkness warning? Should people carry their US passports? /s Anyone with olive or darker skin might be arrested as an undocumented person, citizen or not.===
My husband is a naturalized US citizen originally from the Philippines. We made sure he has his real ID as a precaution to this type of activity. He still feels like he needs an exit plan from the country he chose to become a citizen of.
Comment by Former Downstater Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 12:45 pm
Not an attorney so a question for the hive mind. If I see a neighbor being dragged out of their car by two people in Masks and these masked men have no visible ID and No visible badges and i go to my neighbors aid what would or could I be charged with?
Comment by Jr. Neef Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 12:46 pm
Speaker Johnson apparently called ahead and scheduled his visit in advance to provide congressional oversight and display support for the Immigration Customers Enforcement agents who are being treated poorly, similar to troops coming home from Vietnam fifty plus years ago. The Democrats just showed up to get a selfie to tweet on X and Meta and play politics. The Executive branch doesn’t pass the immigration laws but is entrusted with the responsibility to enforce the law. Vietnam veterans, many of whom were drafted, were treated very poorly upon their return home and it caused them emotional distress they never deserved. Their service was honorable, even though some of our political leaders were not. Not long ago Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress and the Presidency and no immigration legislation was voted out of committee. So catch a breath folks.
Comment by Jack in Chatham Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 1:01 pm
=similar to troops coming home from Vietnam fifty plus years ago.=
No, just stop yourself because these are not the same thing and it is absurd for you to equate these two things.
=So catch a breath folks.=
Take your own advice. These same “law and order” republicans supported an attack on the US capitol on January 6th. The party leader pardoned violent convicted seditionists.
You cannot claim the moral high ground with that record.
And, on behalf of my Vietnam veteran father, your analogy is perverse.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 1:17 pm
ICE is reportedly $1Bn over budget already and in violation of the anti-deficiency act, which allows criminal penalties for agency leaders and personal liability for the overspent cash.
Comment by Suburban Mom Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 1:17 pm
=Not long ago Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress and the Presidency and no immigration legislation was voted out of committee.=
I guess your memory isn’t long enough to remember the bi-partisan bill that candidate Trump put a stop to so he could run on his preferred issue.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 1:20 pm
===If I see a neighbor being dragged out of their car by two people in Masks and these masked men have no visible ID and No visible badges and i go to my neighbors aid what would or could I be charged with? ===
General advice is to demand the officer identify themselves by name and badge #, while calling 911. When they refuse, tell 911 dispatch there are two masked men with guns abducting your neighbor. You can add they’re claiming to be law enforcement but refusing to identify themselves and wear no uniform you’ve ever seen.
People are already being kidnapped by randos and at least one guy in Georgia is approaching women, claiming to be ICE, and threatening them with deportation unless they have sex with him.
Comment by Suburban Mom Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 1:21 pm
===People are already being kidnapped by randos and at least one guy in Georgia is approaching women, claiming to be ICE===
And then there’s the Minnesota assassinations.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 1:22 pm
- If I see a neighbor being dragged out of their car by two people in Masks and these masked men have no visible ID and No visible badges and i go to my neighbors aid what would or could I be charged with? -
In my opinion?…You should be charged with bravery for standing up for the rule of law.
Comment by Dotnonymous x Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 1:58 pm
==And, on behalf of my Vietnam veteran father, your analogy is perverse.==
Seconded.
Comment by VK Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 2:00 pm
Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result
The Democrats being denied access should strongly consider making an appointment with ICE like the Speaker did and see how it goes
But then they wouldn’t have a viral video about lawlessness to post
Comment by Paul Powell Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 2:22 pm
==The Executive branch doesn’t pass the immigration laws but is entrusted with the responsibility to enforce the law.==
Are you of the opinion that the Executive Branch is currently doing a good job with their enforcement efforts?
Comment by May soon be required Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 2:25 pm
“should strongly consider making an appointment”
The health department doesn’t need an appointment to inspect your restaurant. The LCC doesn’t need an appointment to inspect your liquor store. Why should a congressman need an appointment to inspect a federal facility?
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 2:33 pm
So if you had reason not to trust the ICE operation and you wanted to see for yourself how detainees were being treated, why would you give advance notice? To give those you have reason to distrust time to set up a nice photo op? If you have nothing to hide, why the secrecy?
Comment by Decaf Coffee Party Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 2:44 pm
===Why should a congressman need an appointment===
Many years ago, a legislator explained how they knew when a state facility had been tipped off about a surprise inspection. They’d always go to the toaster first. If it had no crumbs in it, the visit had been leaked.
There are times when visits are not appropriate, like maybe when a prison is on emergency lockdown. Otherwise, oversight is oversight.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 2:47 pm
When you are visiting a facility where persons are detained, you need to schedule ahead. Recently State Representatives did not get admitted to a prison because they didn’t schedule in advance. Sad people think it is acceptable to interfere with law enforcement doing their jobs. I imagine many ICE agents would rather be security guards at a federal museum with air conditioning.
@Prudent Apparently you don’t recall four years ago when President Biden, Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi were running the machinery. Four years ago wasn’t that far in the past.
Comment by Jack in Chatham Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 3:33 pm
hard to believe U.S.Speaker that the “assaults” on ICE agents are a threat when ICE is decked out in full military regalia and the supposed “assaults” are civilians in suits and ties and happen to be members of Congress.
Comment by old man Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 3:44 pm
ICE has become the NKVD.
Comment by Boone Logan Square Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 3:46 pm
==And, on behalf of my Vietnam veteran father, your analogy is perverse.==
Thirded.
Comment by Loyal Virus Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 3:48 pm
Jr Neef–of course you’ll be charged if they follow the authoritarian pattern so far. That doesn’t mean the “charge” will be legitimate or actually be prosecuted. Lawn Noem and DOJ don’t care about due process or Rule of Law.
Comment by old man Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 3:49 pm
= Sad people think it is acceptable to interfere with law enforcement doing their jobs. =
No one here said that. Like your other arguments, this straw man is just lame.
In fact, if someone puts their hands on law enforcement they should suffer the consequences. No question. But that is the difference between independents like me (and democrats I think) and republicans and magas. They think it depends on whether or not you support trump. If you do, pardon city. If not, they will go after you for sharing your ideas. That is fact supported by evidence.
I don’t have an issue at all with proper immigration enforcement or border security. This is almost entirely about brown people thought and cruelty not “law and order”. Do it legally, and I support. Also, this is America, lose the masks and properly identify yourself.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jun 18, 25 @ 4:23 pm