Chicago faith leaders prepare to halt in-person Spanish services amid fear of mass deportations: report

Undocumented immigrants are being protected from deportation by Chicago faith leaders who have gathered to discuss their role in this effort.

The Chicago Tribune reports that advocates and local leaders caution that mass deportations could negatively impact undocumented, mixed-status, and new migrant families.

From now on, services catering to Spanish speakers will take place virtually every Sunday at Lincoln United Methodist Church, according to the Tribune.

Francisca Lino told the Tribune that not even the most sacred place feels safe.

Lino, a weekly visitor to Lincoln, stated that her family will now gather for services via computer. Her lawyer informed the Tribune that she has no criminal record and has been in the U.S. for 25 years while maintaining employment.

In 1999, Lino was arrested and deported back to Mexico while crossing the southern border. Despite this, she crossed the border again in 2001 and eventually settled in Bolingbrook, where she married her husband in the same year.

Lino's decision to watch online church services with her family in fear of another deportation is prompted by Chicago's undocumented community and their advocates preparing for the changing administration.

According to other reports, anonymous sources allege that the Trump administration intends to repeal a policy that prohibited ICE officials from carrying out arrests in certain locations, such as schools, places of worship, hospitals, and other "sensitive areas."

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is preparing for Chicago and Illinois to be targeted by creating a plan to connect community members to local rapid-response teams, according to Brandon Lee of the organization.

Emma Lozano, an activist and pastor at Lincoln United Methodist, decided to move its Spanish services online as the church prepares to protect its undocumented immigrant community. The services in English will remain in-person, according to the Tribune.

Mexicans make up the largest share of immigrants in the U.S.

Chicago officials declared that the Mexican community would be the most affected by the recent border crossing. However, Chicago also has a significant Venezuelan community, who make up a substantial portion of the approximately 50,000 migrants who have crossed the southern U.S. border in the last two years.

Trump's border czar nominee, Tom Homan, vowed to enforce immigration laws strictly in Chicago while criticizing Illinois politicians.

At a Northwest Side GOP holiday party last month, Homan outlined his plan, pledging to confirm the whereabouts of asylum seekers and apprehend anyone offering sanctuary to undocumented immigrants.

"Your mayor and governor are causing problems for Chicago, according to Homan," said the partygoer.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson were also invited to meet with him and discuss a plan.

Mayor Johnson would face prosecution if he impedes ICE's efforts to deport large numbers of people, as Homan cautioned.

Governor Pritzker's office has stated that Illinois will face numerous baseless attacks from the Trump administration over the next four years. Instead of responding to every ridiculous boast from Trump's lackeys, Pritzker is focused on leading the state with competence instead of chaos.

Neither Johnson nor Pritzker's office immediately responded to a request for comment.

Chicago residents have criticized Mayor Johnson and other city officials for allegedly disregarding the constitutional rights of citizens, raising concerns about tax hikes, and demanding greater transparency regarding the city's handling of the migrant crisis, as previously reported by Planet Chronicle Digital.