While protesters at recent No Kings events voiced frustration over various issues, some specifically cited a lack of due process for undocumented people as a major concern.
Aldermen Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward) and Marty Quinn (13th Ward) were of a different mind, both emphasize public safety, though they differ in their approaches.
Tabares, who also serves as the ward’s Democratic committeeperson, said the Democratic Party bears responsibility for former President Donald Trump’s election, blaming its shift to the far left and a tendency to lecture rather than listen.
“Democrats abandoned common sense,” she said. “Everybody’s talking about the Latino shift to Trump. In my ward, more Latinos voted for Trump in November 2024 than in 2020 or 2016.”
Tabares said she is focused on people who immigrate to the United States legally to seek a better life.
“My mother came to the U.S. seeking opportunity,” she said, adding that people who immigrate legally should not be targeted for deportation.
In September 2023, Tabares and Alderman Raymond Lopez (15th) introduced an amendment to the city’s Welcoming City Ordinance. It would have allowed Chicago police to work with federal immigration agents under specific circumstances — such as if a person was arrested by CPD or convicted in a court of law for gang-related activity, drug offenses, prostitution or the sexual assault of a minor.
Tabares said Trump’s promise to ramp up deportations of undocumented immigrants might have been preventable.
“Unfortunately, my colleagues in the City Council did not take a stand,” she said. “If they had, we wouldn’t be seeing so many people targeted and deported like we’re seeing now.”
At a June 17 press conference, Mayor Brandon Johnson reaffirmed his opposition to Trump’s immigration agenda, even as the president vows to increase ICE operations in Chicago.
Johnson criticized the federal government for failing to communicate with the CPD about immigration enforcement and the potential deployment of the Illinois National Guard. He also announced a relaunch of the city’s “Know Your Rights” campaign to inform undocumented people of their protections.
The mayor accused Trump of ignoring constitutional limits and showing little interest in cooperating with Chicago.
“The only thing we’ve received from this president is his ongoing attack on equity, diversity and working people,” Johnson said.
Quinn, who supported the proposed Welcoming City Ordinance amendment, criticized the mayor’s broader public safety strategy.
“The mayor has developed a pattern of turning a blind eye to law-abiding citizens,” Quinn said. “That was clear when he vetoed the snap curfew ordinance after the City Council passed it. This is the same mayor who canceled ShotSpotter.”
Quinn said Johnson’s actions are weakening law enforcement and hurting the city financially.
“When downtown — the engine of the city’s economy — is impacted by teen takeovers, fewer people visit. That affects our bottom line,” he said.
He also questioned the mayor’s motivation in opposing the curfew ordinance.
“I don’t understand the end value of trying to appease the younger crowd, unless it’s just to get re-elected,” Quinn said. “I see it as an election ploy to win over 18- to 25-year-olds.”
Quinn expressed skepticism about city data showing reduced crime, saying he doesn’t know what the figures are based on.
“I don’t know the stats he’s talking about,” he said. “That’s their narrative. My narrative is that we don’t have enough police officers on the Southwest Side. I’ve cited data showing 259 officers serving 250,000 residents. No one has disputed that.”
Quinn said Johnson may try to “play politics” with police staffing but warned against it.
“Here’s a guy who’s really struggling in popularity,” Quinn said. “He’s going to do whatever he can to get re-elected. If that means vetoing a curfew that gives police more control over downtown chaos, that’s what he’ll do. I’m going to stand firm in supporting law and order.”