Immigration news in Chicago

FILE – A federal agent wears an Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge in New York, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

Documents support claim ICE has detained a mentally ill US citizen since January, AP investigation shows

By Ryan J. Foley

October 27, 2026 at 8:32 a.m.

For nearly a year, immigration authorities have detained and sought to deport a mentally ill...

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...

Paletero’s cart from Reina de Sabores Paleteria, c. 1980, is one of the items on display in the Aqui en Chicago exhibit at the Chicago History Museum. (Chicago History Museum/gift of Reina de Sabores Paleteria)

Chicago History Museum curator to discuss inclusion and representation at Oak Park River Forest Museum

By Myrna Petlicki

September 22, 2026 at 11:40 a.m.

Chicago History Museum curator Elena Gonzales will discuss the new exhibit Aqui en Chicago at...

Man shot by ICE in Texas is back in detention after leaving hospital, attorney says

By Anna Wilder

September 22, 2026 at 6:01 a.m.

A Venezuelan man shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Texas was...

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer’s badge is visible during an ICE hiring fair, Aug. 26, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders, sources

By Ryan J. Foley

September 21, 2026 at 5:40 p.m.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stopped publicly revealing where it is holding thousands of...

An ICE agent in Park Ridge, Illinois on Sept. 19, 2025. Law enforcement appearing to be from ICE briefly detained an Evanston man and U.S. citizen Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 in Evanston, according to Evanston police, who added that the agents said they mistakenly identified the man as a fugitive they were seeking. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Man beaten by ICE agents in Evanston in possible case of mistaken identity, per police

By Claire Murphy

September 21, 2026 at 3:34 p.m.

The victim, an Evanston resident and U.S. citizen, reported ICE agents injured his head, neck...

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis speaks during a news conference at Austin City Hall, Sept. 20, 2026, after a federal immigration agent shot and wounded a man in North Austin, Texas (Sara Diggins/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

ICE agent shoots and wounds man in Austin, Texas, officials say

By Jesse Bedayn

September 21, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded a man Sunday afternoon in...

Freddy Cazares, who has lived in the United States for over 20 years, meets with his legal team at the Resurrection Project office in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on Aug. 6, 2026, to sign documents related to the continuation of his work permit application. (Antonio Perez/baiduhai)

For those detained during Operation Midway Blitz, release doesn’t mean freedom

By Andrew Carter

September 20, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

For many immigrants arrested and detained during Operation Midway Blitz, a release isn’t necessarily a...

A woman walks past an apparel store decorated with flags from Latin American countries in the 5900 block of West Fullerton Avenue in Chicago's Belmont Cragin neighborhood on Sept. 17, 2026. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Chicago’s Latino population is shifting west, with Belmont Cragin now the city’s largest Latino neighborhood

By Allison Kiehl

September 18, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A new report from UIC confirms that Latinos account for nearly 30% of Chicago's population...

Plaintiffs Jennifer Moriarty, from left, Kyle Frankovich and Juan Munoz listen to attorney Antonio Romanucci during a press conference in Chicago at the law firm of Romanucci & Blandin on Sept. 17, 2026. The plaintiffs filed lawsuits over their treatment by federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

15 Illinoisans file claims against feds for alleged Operation Midway Blitz misconduct

By Caroline Kubzansky

September 17, 2026 at 7:14 p.m.

The claimants include an Evanston attorney who was detained while filming a federal arrest on...

An undated photo shown to the jury in the trial of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent Luis Uribe shows him holding up the gun prosecutors say was used in the rape and robbery of Chinese sex workers in 2022. (U.S. attorney's office)

US Customs and Border agent convicted of raping, robbing sex workers in Chicago-area hotel rooms

By Jason Meisner

September 17, 2026 at 5:14 p.m.

A federal jury on Thursday convicted U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent Luis Uribe on...

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Gastonia Municipal Airport, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Gastonia, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

President Donald Trump withdraws Lance Schroyer as his nominee to lead ICE

By Associated Press

September 17, 2026 at 1:07 p.m.

The White House said Thursday that it was withdrawing its nomination of Lance Schroyer, a...