I materially agree with the editors of the Chicago Tribune:
The provocateurs on both the right and the left over the weekend defined the narrative around the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge into Chicago and its suburbs.
On the right, we had Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers “patrolling” Latino neighborhoods in Chicago and tear-gassing scenes that arguably didn’t call for such heavy-handed tactics. We had the Department of Homeland Security making Hollywood-style videos of a wee-hours South Shore apartment building raid that looks more over-the-top with each passing day.
On the left, we had activists who were attempting — with cars or otherwise — to physically impede ICE and Customs Border Patrol agents from doing the work they’re legally allowed to do. With those tactics, these militant activists are imperiling the far greater number of peaceful protesters striving mightily to make their voices heard without breaking the law.
I would point out one defect in the equivalence between “right” and “left” the editors are attempting to draw in their opening passage. “‘Patrolling’ Latino neighborhoods”, being heavy-handed, and making “Hollywood-style videos” are not illegal. Physically impeding federal agents in the the work they are obliged to do is illegal. Here’s the meat of the editorial:
The entire spectacle leaves all of us distraught. In a statement over the weekend, the Civic Federation, the Civic Committee of In a statement over the weekend, the Civic Federation, the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce called for cooperation from the Trump administration with law enforcement in Chicago rather than more provocations. “National Guard troops on our streets have the potential to sow fear and chaos, threatening our businesses’ bottom lines and our reputation,” they wrote. We have said much the same before, and continue to believe that military deployment against the wishes of local officeholders would be counterproductive at best and dangerous at worst. Any military deployment, if necessary, ought to be done in close coordination with local law enforcement. Under the present circumstances, that appears highly unlikely.
Unfortunately, the sort of coordination and collaboration for which the civic organizations and the editors call is expressly prohibited by Chicago’s “Welcoming City” ordinance. They continue:
We would caution Gov. JB Pritzker and, more particularly, Mayor Brandon Johnson not to encourage unlawful protests. Johnson on Monday sounded shrill and didn’t imbue with confidence.
After signing an executive order barring federal agents from city property, an order that will be difficult at best to enforce, Johnson warned that the city might have to “take even more dramatic action” if ICE raids and the like continue. Asked to elaborate on what that might entail, he responded, he responded, “Everything. Everything, whatever is necessary to ensure that we’re protecting people.”
Mr. Mayor, that’s not an appropriate response. Because “everything” isn’t legally at your disposal in response to what’s happening. Rhetoric along those e
lines can inspire the more militant among us to take actions that put themselves, innocent bystanders and first responders at risk.To that end, we were heartened that the governor on Friday had Illinois State To that end, we were heartened on Friday had Illinois State Police present at the federal detention center in Broadview, which has been the site of protests for several weeks. Pritzker took that step in response to the growing tension and some disturbing interactions between activists and ICE there, knowing he’d be criticized by voices on the left. Those critics predictably disparaged his effort to protect the rights of peaceful protesters as collaboration with federal immigration enforcement. Being governor sometimes entails taking actions that will make people in your own political tent upset. Pritzker deserves credit for doing so.
I only wish he had done that from the outset. Continuing:
Still, we were concerned when Pritzker seemed to refer to Illinois as a “sovereign state” when understandably lamenting the potential arrival here of e of
the Texas National Guard. Perhaps he was entirely using the adjective in terms of the Guard and its authorization, which is fine. But we remind everyone that Illinois obviously is not a sovereign state in the accepted sense of the word, meaning an independent political entity with total control over of the word, meaning an independent political entity with total control over its own territory. Like it or not, there is a duly elected federal government with power over immigration laws in this state and that must be spoken to and negotiated with. There is no other choice.
Mayor Johnson and Gov. Pritzker started with the “other choice”. That produced the results we are seeing.
