The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is setting up operations in Chicago, specifically in Oak Brook, Illinois, where new agents are being stationed to conduct mass raids. This shift of focus is characterized by the noticeable presence of law enforcement vehicles in the area prepared for upcoming operations against undocumented migrants. As the word spreads about the imminent raids, local immigrant communities are responding with heightened concerns about their safety.

Eyewitness accounts reported by Milenio indicate that ICE agents have begun arriving as of February 16, with equipment already secured and awaiting operational directives. This level of activity has raised alarm among migrant communities, who fear the resurgence of aggressive enforcement tactics that have previously characterized ICE operations. Measures such as activating curfews reflect the immediate tension and discomfort within these communities, emphasizing their need to devise strategies to protect themselves.

The implications of ICE's increased visibility in Chicago are profound. Not only do they threaten the stability and well-being of immigrant families, but also raise questions about the policies under which such operations are conducted. There is a growing call for public discourse around immigration enforcement practices and the potential need for legal protections for these vulnerable populations, as the climate becomes increasingly hostile towards migrants in the United States.