A Chicago neighborhood is in uproar after federal immigration agents detained a homeless man without status, fined a legal resident for not carrying his documents, and reportedly questioned U.S. citizens amid a broader Trump-era enforcement surge.
Immigration concerns escalated in Chicago after a legal U.S. resident was fined for not carrying his documents during an ICE sweep in Rogers Park. Rueben Antonio Cruz, 60, originally from El Salvador, said agents approached him and a friend, demanded proof of status, and detained him in their truck while questioning him about his identity. Although federal agents confirmed his legal residency, they issued him a $130 citation for failing to carry papers. His friend, who lacked documentation, was taken into custody.
Under federal law, registered immigrants must carry proof of status at all times, but legal experts say such enforcement was rare before President Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown. Civil rights advocates condemned the tactic as “unnecessary and cruel,” warning that U.S. citizens are also being questioned. Community members held a protest days later, with local officials urging residents not to be intimidated.
The Department of Homeland Security claims it has made 800 arrests since launching “Operation Midway Blitz.”