ICE Targets Chicago's Homeless Community

"Since September, at least six unhoused Chicagoans have been abducted by federal agents. That number is likely higher, but the social invisibility and isolation already faced by people experiencing homelessness make their disappearances harder to track. "While we have heard several reports that we are working to verify, we don't have an exhaustive list or count of all incidents involving people experiencing homelessness," wrote Melissa West, staff attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow with the Law Project of the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness (CCH), over email Monday."

"* Over the weekend of September 27-28, 11 unhoused people were detained in Logan Square, according to a tip the organization received. "We are continuing to investigate," wrote West. * Two independent eyewitnesses told street outreach workers that at least four unhoused people were arrested by federal agents around Belmont and Kimball early in the week of September 29. * CCH was also notified of a raid targeting unhoused people who were "congregating in a public space" near Milwaukee and Belmont on Thursday, October 2."

"* "We have also heard of the possible detainment of four individuals at an encampment in Cicero," wrote West. * Two individuals were taken from outside a shelter in Budlong Woods on September 25 but were later released; the four snatched from outside a shelter in Bronzeville on October 1 remain in custody, their status unknown. "We are encouraging anyone who has information, or believes that they witnessed these raids at the locations mentioned above-or any other similar incidents-to reach out," West wrote.- Katie Prout,"

Since September, at least six unhoused Chicagoans have been abducted by federal agents, and the true number is likely higher due to social invisibility and isolation. The Law Project of the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness (CCH) and other service providers are investigating multiple reported abductions totaling approximately 19 people. Reported incidents include detentions in Logan Square on September 27–28, arrests near Belmont and Kimball around September 29, a raid near Milwaukee and Belmont on October 2, possible detainments at a Cicero encampment, and removals outside shelters in Budlong Woods and Bronzeville.

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