Activists protest ICE agents at O'Hare Airport
Demonstrators gathered Friday evening at O’Hare International Airport to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who have been called to assist with airport security amid a partial federal government shutdown.
ICE agents had been seen at O’Hare since Monday after President Donald Trump directed them to help the Transportation Security Administration’s operations at airports nationwide amid the Department of Homeland Security funding lapse.
No ICE agents were seen Friday in Terminal 1, where the couple dozen protesters gathered, or Terminal 2.
“ICE out of O’Hare, ICE out of everywhere,” protesters shouted.
After an hour of standing outside at the departures area, the protesters walked inside Terminal 1, chanting, “ICE out now.” Many travelers and airline workers laughed and took videos of the protesters. One man pointed in protesters’ faces and shouted, “Get out now.”
Once demonstrators returned to their initial staging area outside, Chicago police officers issued a dispersal order for unlawful assembly, which was triggered when the protesters went inside. Police vehicles then blocked access to the Terminal 1 drop off area. No arrests were reported.
Earlier Friday, Trump signed an executive action that will pay TSA workers, who have gone without pay for weeks since the DHS shutdown began Feb. 14.
The TSA has faced staffing shortages during the shutdown as Democrats and Republicans in Congress quarrel over funding for DHS, which oversees the TSA, ICE and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Democrats have refused to fund DHS without changes to immigration enforcement practices.
The shortage has resulted in long lines for security checkpoints at airports across the country. Travelers at O’Hare have experienced lengthy lines during busy travel weekends, however, many travelers have recently reported wait times of less than half an hour.
About 75 ICE agents were expected to be stationed at O’Hare, Mayor Brandon Johnson said earlier this week. Agents were monitoring exit lanes and checkpoints, not performing security screenings. Agents were not deployed to Midway.
Friday’s protesters pointed to the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation campaign last fall in the Chicago area, “Operation Midway Blitz,” that brought an influx of ICE and CBP agents who roved the streets and made thousands of arrests. The operation involved a seemingly indiscriminate use of tear gas and other chemical irritants, and the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez and the shooting of Marimar Martinez at the hands of federal agents.
“I don’t like what’s going on in our country with ICE agents terrorizing our communities,” said Melissa Espinoza, 45, who calmly stood along protest-designated fencing holding a sign reading, “ICE out now.”
“I feel like it is my obligation to be here as a Hispanic, Latina person,” Espinoza, of Westmont, said. “It’s important that I speak up for those that don’t have a voice.”
Espinoza recalled hearing stories about her past relatives fleeing Mexico for “survival,” and “to be able to feed [their] families.”
“Most Latino people can definitely relate to what’s happening,” she said. “It’s definitely personal, our families immigrated here, and it’s our community being targeted because of the color of our skin. And that’s not OK.”
Associated Press contributed.