The federal government has the ability to improve living conditions in Chicago, but this would require a shift away from high-profile enforcement actions and a focus on more substantive reforms. Recent immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump has given Democrats material to criticize what they see as harsh tactics and disregard for civil liberties. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have been accused of using these events to divert attention from local challenges.

Tom Homan, who leads federal border efforts, noted that when local authorities do not work with federal agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is forced to conduct broader operations. "That is exactly the controversy Pritzker and Johnson seek: Images of ICE agents at doorst

See Full Page