September 15 Updates

Sep 15

ICE raid in Georgia at a Hyundai plant is now on record as one of their largest raids yet, as they apprehended 475 people (according to DHS). This operation has now strained relations with South Korea, since DHS was aware that many of the people they arrested were in no violation of their parole or visas.
- NBC News - SK probing human rights abuses in raid
- AP News - families in crisis after raid
- The Guardian - workplace safety concerns at Hyundai plant

State Dept is considering handing over voter roll data to DHS for “criminal probes” - Reuters
Detentions and deportations of Russian asylum-seekers are increasing - The Guardian and The Times
The Supreme Court granted the federal government their request for a stay on the temporary restraining order (TRO) prohibiting DHS from conducting unlawful patrols and detentions based solely on race and language spoken.

Catalina “Xochitl” Santiago, a DACA recipient, has had the case against her dismissed! Although she is currently still detained and has not yet been released.

Charges cited by DHS as the reason for her detention were never filed against her - KUTV
AZ senators and lawmakers demand answers from DHS about DACA recipients and military families. - Tucson

Letter from 41 Senators to Kristi Noem about DACA policies being violated and contradicted by federal actions. (signed by Durbin and Duckworth)

The bill would bar the Department of Housing and Urban Development from sharing tenant or applicant records for immigration-enforcement purposes.
Introduced to Congress by Rep Vargas (D-CA) - see all cosponsors here and let your representative know you want to see them support this bill when it comes to vote

The bill would prohibit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from disclosing Medicaid records for immigration-enforcement uses.
Introduced to Congress by Rep Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) cosponsors can be seen here – no IL Reps have signed on yet!

On Friday morning, September 12th, ICE murdered Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez just after he had dropped his children off at school.

Newsweek
MSNBC (video)
ABC7
CBS (warning – surveillance video of the incident from a nearby business + truck driver’s video that shows ICE officers kneeling on Villegas-Gonzalez’s body to restrain him after shooting him and dragging him from his car)

Misa Popular went off without a hitch on Saturday morning outside of the Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago.
- Organized by CSPL, around 300 Catholics and allies came together on 9/13/25 to protest ICE and pray for peace

Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village went off thanks to dedicated neighbors, community groups, and Rapid Response Teams who volunteered to marshall and monitor to keep our communities safe.
- Block Club
- ABC7

Operation “Midway Blitz” is fully underway. Operations around Chicago, but especially on the West and South-west sides have escalated.

Protestors at Broadview on Friday were greeted with agents in full military fatigues, gas masks, and tactical gear. Pepper bullets were fired at protestors sitting peacefully in the street and at least two instances were recorded where agents sprayed pepper spray directly into people’s faces at point-blank range.
Agitators are now coming to many ICE facilities to “cheer on” ICE agents – many are armed. Please be judicious, observant, and be aware of your risks.
ICE agents are also taking right wing influencers with them on “ride-alongs” to counter protestors showing up. One such case documented in Chicago recently involved Ben Bergquam, who has been agitating people in Chicago and spreading propaganda about pastors like Emma Lozano in Pilsen since 2019.

To report any potential ICE or other federal troops activity in your neighborhood call Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights' Family Support Network Hotline at 855-435-7693.
More legal support hotlines:

Trauma-informed hotline to find civil rights counsel for police misconduct, report federal law enforcement activity, & get referrals to community & legal resources.
Languages: English & Spanish
24/7/365

Free lawyers to represent people arrested during protests or for political activity while in police custody or in court.

KYR Resources for people experiencing homelessness can be found here. Multiple languages available.

ONE Northside has compiled a Northside Rapid Response Resources Document after their meeting on Thursday that was attended by close to 300 people!

Emily Wheeler

September 22 Updates