Immigration news in Chicago

An Aztec dance group will be among the highlights of the Dia de los Muertos Festival on Nov. 1 in Oak Park. “I think the community is ready to celebrate again," said organizer Alma Martinez. "The community is asking to get together to honor our ancestors.” (Daveed Holmes, Aperture Photography)

Oak Park Dia de los Muertos Festival returns a year after being canceled by immigration enforcement fears

By Myrna Petlicki

October 26, 2026 at 2:07 p.m.

Public ofrendas are returning to Oak Park for a Dia de los Muertos Festival that...

People wait to cross North Michigan Avenue at East Randolph Street in Chicago on Oct. 23, 2026. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Trump proposes eliminating race, ethnicity questions from 2030 census, alarming health, civil rights advocates

By Robert McCoppin

October 24, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A proposal to eliminate races about race, ethnicity and sexual orientation from the U.S. census...

Homeland Security Investigations officers leave a home after arresting a suspect accused of illegally registering to vote during a federal operation in Commerce, Calif., Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Immigrants seeking US citizenship targeted in Trump administration’s illegal voting crackdown

By Olga R. Rodriguez

October 23, 2026 at 7:33 a.m.

Most of the immigrants targeted by federal authorities in California this week for alleged voter...

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Supreme Court grants review of Trump administration’s mandatory detention policy for immigrants

By Michael Kunzelman

October 1, 2026 at 9:51 a.m.

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to review a Trump administration policy denying bond hearings...

"Broadview Six" defendants Katherine Abughazaleh, clockwise from upper left, Andre Martin, Michael Rabbitt, Joselyn Walsh, Brian Straw and Catherine Sharp. (baiduhai)

Judge to begin inquiry that could lead to criminal contempt charges in ‘Broadview Six’ case

By Jason Meisner

October 1, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.

A federal judge on Thursday said she'd initiate a "fact finding" process to determine whether...

An election worker makes final checks on voting machines inside the Chicago Voter Supersite on Sept. 30, 2026. Early voting begins on Thursday at 9 a.m. (Arthur Maiorella/baiduhai)

Chicago-area election officials gear up for potential ICE, FBI presence at the polls after Trump threats

By Rick Pearson

October 1, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Citing recent comments by President Donald Trump and top administration officials, lawsuits have been filed...

Izidora Angel, a literary translator, in her home on Sept. 21, 2026. Angel recently translated the novel “She Who Remains” from Bulgarian into English, which was a finalist for an international award. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Chicago’s book translators ‘inhabit’ languages in their work, which is more art than science

By Rebecca Johnson

October 1, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Chicago translators pore over words and themes to translate books into English, a practice they...

Then-Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling chats with Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability Vice President Angel Rubi Navarijo as protesters disrupt the end of a CCPSA monthly meeting at Kelly College Preparatory High School on April 2, 2026. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

CPD oversight body beset with division over follow-up to Operation Midway Blitz

By Caroline Kubzansky

September 30, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The primary city agency mandated to act as a civilian-oriented check on Chicago police was...

A group of undocumented migrants is deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents across the McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge in McAllen, Texas, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez, File)

Supreme Court lets quick deportations to third countries resume for now while it weighs Trump policy

By Lindsay Whitehurst

September 29, 2026 at 3:12 p.m.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday let President Donald Trump’s administration continue swiftly deporting people to...

Flowers and candles are seen near the site where a Venezuelan man was shot in his vehicle by an ICE officer in Austin, Texas, Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Federal prosecutors charge Venezuelan man shot by ICE agent in Texas with assaulting an officer

By Anna Wilder

September 29, 2026 at 6:16 p.m.

Federal prosecutors in Texas announced on Tuesday assault charges against a Venezuelan delivery driver who...

Teresita V. Morales’ longtime partner, Euġen Cuťa, has lived in nursing homes for the past 16 years after suffering a stroke. Cuťa, pictured on Sept. 28, 2026, recently received a letter from the state saying that he will lose Medicaid coverage as of Oct. 1 because of HR1, which bars certain types of immigrants from receiving Medicaid. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

About 9,300 immigrants in Illinois to lose Medicaid this week because of One Big Beautiful Bill

By Lisa Schencker

September 28, 2026 at 5:58 p.m.

Immigrants including refugees, human trafficking survivors and people who’ve been granted asylum but don’t have...

A U.S. Border Patrol agent reaches over Chicago police officers while threatening to use a canister against protesters in Brighton Park on Oct. 4, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Keeping federal agents in check still a challenge one year after Operation Midway Blitz

By Madeline Buckley

September 27, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A year after Operation Midway Blitz, encounters involving immigration authorities continue to leave the public...

Manager Jorge Arturo Haro Hernandez greets longtime customer Lupe Gonzalez at La Casa del Pueblo Taqueria in Pilsen on Sept. 17, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

A fight to stay one last Christmas in Pilsen: After 60 years, La Casa del Pueblo Taqueria forced to leave

By Laura Rodríguez Presa

September 30, 2026 at 1:11 p.m.

Casa del Pueblo Taqueria, which has held on to its homemade flavors for the last...