"As many people shop, go to work, walk their dogs and stroll with their friends through parks, others are being chased down, tear-gassed, detained and assaulted by federal agents carrying out immigration sweeps. The situation is similar to what occurred in Los Angeles in summer, as ICE swept through Southern California, grabbing people off the street and raiding car washes and Home Depots in predominantly Latino areas, while leaving large swaths of the region untouched."
"Take Sunday, the day of the Chicago Marathon. Some 50,000 runners hailing from more than 100 countries and 50 states, gathered downtown to dash, jog and slog over 26.3 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and city streets. The sun was bright, the temperatures hovered in the upper-60s, and leaves of maple, oak, aspen and ginkgo trees colored the city with splashes of yellow, orange and red."
"At 12:30, Ludwig Marchel and Karen Vanherck of Belgium strolled west along East Monroe Street, through Millennium Park. They smiled and proudly wore medals around their necks commemorating their marathon achievement. They said they were not concerned about coming to Chicago, despite news stories depicting violent protests and raids, and the Trump administration's description of the city as "war torn," a "hellhole," a "killing field" and "the most dangerous city in the world.""
The Chicago area presents a stark contrast between normal daily activities and forceful immigration enforcement. Residents and visitors engage in routine life—shopping, working, walking dogs and attending events—while federal agents conduct sweeps that chase, tear-gas, detain and assault individuals. The enforcement pattern mirrors ICE operations in Los Angeles that targeted predominantly Latino neighborhoods and businesses while leaving other areas relatively untouched. Major public events, such as the Chicago Marathon with tens of thousands of participants, proceeded amid bright fall weather and visitors who reported feeling unconcerned despite prominent rhetoric portraying the city as dangerously violent.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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