Federal Immigration Agents Target Rideshare Drivers at O’Hare Again

Federal immigration agents conducted a second raid this month targeting rideshare drivers at O’Hare International Airport, highlighting ongoing tensions between local authorities and federal immigration policies. On the morning of October 21, 2023, agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained four drivers in a designated staging area while they awaited pickup requests, according to a spokesperson for the Service Employees International Union Local 1, Bailey Koch.

Koch, whose union is part of a coalition aiming to organize Illinois rideshare workers, stated that she did not have immediate information regarding the identities or current statuses of those detained. Both the Department of Homeland Security and Mayor Johnson’s press office did not respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.

The recent enforcement actions come despite efforts from Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has been working to prevent such raids. Koch noted that the Johnson administration had agreed to implement 24/7 security at the rideshare lot to ensure that only individuals with proper credentials could access it, although this has not been confirmed by the mayor’s office.

This latest incident adds to a growing list of confrontations between the Johnson administration and federal agencies. The mayor has been vocal in resisting the aggressive immigration policies initiated during the previous administration, which have intensified under the current federal campaign known as Operation Midway Blitz. Just days earlier, on October 10, Border Patrol agents arrested 18 individuals at O’Hare, marking a significant escalation in federal activity at the airport.

Local leaders, including Alderman Michael Rodriguez, who chairs the Workforce Development Committee, have expressed concern over these actions. Rodriguez plans to consult with the Johnson administration to identify further measures to prevent future raids, condemning federal tactics as “Gestapo efforts” that occur without regard for legality.

While the operations at O’Hare and Midway International Airport fall under federal jurisdiction for air traffic and security, the land itself is owned by the city. This distinction has been emphasized by Mayor Johnson, especially in light of the October raids. In a statement, Johnson reiterated his commitment to working with the Illinois Drivers Alliance to safeguard drivers’ rights and prevent the use of city property for immigration enforcement activities deemed unlawful.

Earlier this month, Johnson signed an executive order prohibiting federal immigration authorities from conducting enforcement operations on city-owned land. He also called for criminal charges against agents who violate this order, although the practicality of such actions remains uncertain. Following the October 10 arrests, a spokesperson for Johnson indicated that the lack of signage prohibiting immigration enforcement at the airport parking lot limited the administration’s ability to take legal action against the federal agents involved. New signage is expected to be installed soon, but it remains unclear if this has occurred yet.

As tensions continue to rise between local leaders and federal authorities, the situation at O’Hare represents a significant flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and local governance.