As immigration arrests spike in Chicago, activists escalate tactics to fight back

By SOPHIA TAREEN and CHRISTINE FERNANDO, Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — As encounters with federal immigration agents around Chicago increase , tactics used by activists and immigrant leaders to fight back are also escalating.

The Trump administration has singled out Chicago as its latest mark for immigration enforcement, using traffic stops in immigrant-heavy areas and targeting day laborers outside hardware stores.

“We will not back down,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted Thursday on X, recirculating dramatic footage of arrests at a suburban Chicago home days earlier.

Activists and local leaders are also defiant , trying to deter agents, warn residents and keep attention on a man killed by an immigration officer last week .

Focusing on day laborers

As U.S