Vanessa Cárdenas: “‘The Enemy Within’ Includes Moms, Dads, Children and U.S. Citizens” in a Chicago Apartment Building

Access online version of this press release HERE

Washington, DC —The federal government is officially shut down, but this administration’s mass deportation crusade proceeds and ICE is continuing to advance its dangerous combination of cruelty and impunity.

In particular, as more details emerge from a raid on a South Side Chicago apartment building earlier this week, it’s clear that ICE’s aggressive tactics are scaling up to even more dangerous levels. See disturbing photos of the aftermath of the ICE raid from People magazine coverage and Chicago outlet The Triibe.

According to Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice:

“It is clear that for this administration the ‘enemy within’ includes our neighbors and friends, moms, dads, and children, U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. Let this sink in, ICE came in the middle of the night to terrorize a community, knocking down doors and dragging people– including children– out of their beds. Let’s be clear – this is not what Americans voted for and families in American cities are not enemies within.

This mass deportation crusade is endangering the rights and safety of all Americans, traumatizing our children, and separating our families. As a nation, we are better than having our government, in our name, inflicting such deliberate and hateful cruelty.”

See below for key coverage on the unconscionable ICE raid in Chicago:

• MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, “‘F— them kids’: ICE agents drag children out of bed, ransack Chicago building” noted, “Dozens of federal agents raiding an entire apartment building with kids in it just to see what they can find. It’s the most egregious abuse of our basic rights as Americans I’ve seen in a long time, maybe in my lifetime.”

• The Triibe, “Feds detain dozens of immigrants in ‘massive’ South Shore apartment building raid in Chicago” noted, “A couple who live nearby and only provided first names told reporters they were shocked to see the enormous militarized raid in their community. “I think all that money could be better spent,” said Mike. They also expressed concern about President Donald Trump pivoting to target Black people or other communities of color. The apartment building is adjacent to Excel Academy of South Shore and Powell Elementary School.”

• People, “ICE Agents Rappel from Helicopter in Overnight Chicago Raid, Dragging Kids from Beds to U-Hauls” noted, “Ebony Sweets Watson, who lives across the street from where the raid occurred, said she saw what seemed like hundreds of agents outside her front door. She said she witnessed agents dragging residents, including children — some naked or improperly clothed — out of the building and into U-Haul vans. Children were separated from their mothers, she said.”