Why Trump’s show of force in L.A. isn’t happening in Chicago (yet)

Protests in Chicago after the 2020 death of George Floyd. Photo: unsplash.com/@maxwbender.

The violent protests erupting in Los Angeles over ICE and CBP operations—where federal agents have been ambushing migrants at court check-ins and judicial review hearings—are horrifying and heartbreaking.

These are people voluntarily appearing at court as part of due process, only to be met with heavily armed agents treating courthouses like battlegrounds.

But while tensions are boiling over in L.A., Chicago, for now, has been spared the same kind of flashpoint. And let me be clear—it has nothing to do with Mayor Brandon Johnson, who I frankly think is in way over his head about a lot of things.

There are two main reasons for this calm before the potential storm in Chicago.

The first is political theater—specifically, the toxic spectacle of Trump vs. Gavin Newsom.

The President has an obsessive fixation with California’s governor, whose visible national profile and presidential ambitions make him a tempting punching bag for Trump’s base.

While Trump also harbors open disdain for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, there’s something about Newsom that triggers a personal vendetta.

Maybe it’s the slick confidence, maybe it’s the bold policy stances, or maybe it’s just the California glow that Trump wants to dim.

Whatever the case, Newsom is being made an example of—through federal actions that seem designed to cause unrest on his home turf, paint him as weak, and create the illusion that he’s lost control of his state.

Trump’s calculation is cynical. Provoke chaos, step back, and then scream “failed leadership.”

But if the images coming out of Los Angeles continue to worsen, that strategy may backfire. Because people across this country are watching federal agents storm courts and tear families apart—not in the shadows, but in full daylight, where even the law is supposed to protect the vulnerable.

The second reason we haven’t seen the same thing unfold in Chicago is because of the power of grassroots resistance.

ICE and CBP already attempted similar operations here.

They targeted migrants during their scheduled court appearances in the Chicago area.

But before they could fully carry out their tactics, Chicago’s network of grassroots groups—long experienced in rapid response organizing—sprang into action.

The mere whisper of federal activity was enough to activate teams of lawyers, clergy, immigrant advocates, and local officials.

In fact, three Latino Chicago alders were physically present with their community groups within minutes of learning about the federal sweep.

Their presence helped de-escalate the situation, and in some cases, physically blocked ICE from surrounding courthouse entrances.

This wasn’t an accident.

It was the result of years of organizing, relationship-building, and emergency preparedness within immigrant communities.

These are networks that don’t just react—they anticipate.

But let’s not be lulled into thinking we’ve won.

That early grassroots victory likely caught the attention of federal agencies, who now know what they’re up against in Chicago.

Next time, they’ll come back harder, faster, and better coordinated. They’ll adjust their tactics. They’ll try to outmaneuver our community protectors.

The real test is coming.

In the meantime, we must keep showing up.

We must keep building.

Because while the war of optics between Trump and Newsom may be what’s lighting the fuse in L.A., it’s the power of local community that will determine whether Chicago’s courts remain safe for immigrants seeking justice—or turn into another stage for state violence.

And let’s be clear!

This is about all of us.

Not just those at risk of deportation.

It’s about what kind of country we’re going to be.

When the courthouse becomes a trap, when the law becomes a weapon instead of a shield, we all become less free.

And that’s a fight we can’t afford to lose.