A sign taped to a window explaining an ICE abduction that had happened there earlier in the week as a march happens nearby. Pilsen, 6/8/25.

By Dominic Guanzon

Sunday, 6/8/25

This story was covered on The Poor Proles’ Almanac podcast.

*A Mexican flag is flown from an apartment building to the cheers of passing protesters. Pilsen, 6/8/25.*

PILSEN, CHICAGO – About 200 protesters took part in a rally at Plaza Tenochtitlán and march throughout Pilsen against escalating ICE raids that took place in the city the past week.

The protest was organized by the Coalition Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD), and the 25th Ward IPO. They demonstrated “in response to these escalation of operations conducted by ICE with the collaboration of CPD officers and officials,” according to the CAARPR press release.

“We had seen [CPD] had showed up as [ICE] was trying to deport about 20 or so people that were being detained…That is completely uncalled for in the city of Chicago. We have a Welcoming City ordinance that prevents CPD from being able to collaborate with ICE,” said Omar Flores, head of CAARPR’s Immigrant Rights Working Committee, at the pre-protest press conference.

Additionally, in 2021, Governor Pritzker signed a series of laws that strengthened the TRUST and VOICES Acts, which further solidified Illinois as a sanctuary state from federal collaboration.

*Omar Flores, head of CARRPR’s Immigrant Rights Working Committee. Pilsen, 6/8/25.*

*Passerby observe the rally at Plaza Tenochtitlán. Pilsen, 6/8/25.*

On Monday 6/2, ICE arrested two workers from Pilsen’s Carnitas Don Pedro, as reported by Block Club. The following Tuesday, an alert within an anti-deportation rapid response network, which includes CAARPR, prevented ICE from potentially arresting more in the neighborhood when they confronted the federal agents using flash from their cameras, but without physical altercation.

The following Wednesday, another notice put out by OCAD alerted people to an unprecedented ICE apprehension in South Loop. About 10 participants in ICE’s ISAP program received texts for a check-in, but instead of continuing their legal process, they were detained. A crowd formed before detainees were placed in an ICE vehicle, and an altercation with masked federal agents allegedly resulted in a sitting Alderman being knocked to the ground.

CPD arrived on the scene, with orgs such as CAARPR alleging potential collaboration.

The protest happened amid police crackdowns on civil disobedience in Los Angeles.

“We actually had this protest planned before everything that went down in L.A…National Guard should never, ever, ever be called on people that are just protesting for a just and sane society,” said Flores.

*An activist rallies the crowd at the conclusion of the march, held under the concrete skybridge of Benito Juarez High School. Pilsen, 6/8/25.*

*A family observes from their apartment on protests below. Pilsen, 6/8/25.*

The rally began at approximately 14:00. The march began at 15:00 going east on 18th St, turning south on Carpenter St, and west on Cermack Rd. As rain began to pick up to a decent, short shower, the march pivoted off Cermack to under the large, concrete awning of Benito Juarez High School, where an ending rally was held.

There, a member of Filipino-based leftist organization Anakbayan, which has its own anti-deportation network, shared concerns from family in Los Angeles.

“Because of what he saw in L.A., he was scared to be ratted out as if he were some kind of common criminal. He told me, ‘what crime did we commit? We just wanted better lives for our people and our families.'”

The protest was joined by other groups, including Anakbayan Chicago, New SDS, and 50501 Chicago.

Protest marshals were present for a relatively moderate police presence, with National Lawyers Guild green hats observing. No incidents occurred.