October 6 - October 12
Chicago crackdown on immigrants, journalists, and protestors
Federal agents taunted a woman by saying "Do something, b****." before shooting her multiple times, according to her attorney who reviewed body cam footage of the shooting. The woman has been indicted by a grand jury and is expected to plead not guilty. Guardian
A Chicago journalist was pushed to the ground and arrested, then released later without charges. Guardian
A pastor was repeatedly shot by pepper balls while praying during a demonstration at a Chicago ICE facility, one example of many of the escalating use of force against peaceful protestors. An Illinois judge has temporarily blocked federal agents from using certain types of force in response to a lawsuit filed by the Chicago Headline club. CNN
Already wearing masks and no name tags, some federal agents have been seen driving cards without license plates. WBEZ
A neighbor shielded a 7-year old girl and her mother during the Sept 30th South Shore raid. WBEZ
In Chicago, Pope Leo XIV met with labor union leaders and urged to "continue to advocate for society to respect the human dignity of the most vulnerable." AP
ICE recruitment blitz
ICE working to build 24/7 social media surveillance team. Wired
Part of the $30 billion initiative to hire 10,000 additional ICE officers, the department is now spending millions to advertise in more than a dozen cities including Atlanta, Chicago, and Seattle. One advertisement shows images of ICE agents making arrests accompanied by the narration: "You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city, safe. But in sanctuary cities, you're ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free." AP
According to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security, 18,000 "tentative job offers" have been extended to candidates.
Deportations
Journalist Mario Guevara has been deported to his native El Salvador after more than three months in detention. He was arrested while covering the No Kings protest in Atlanta on June 14, a move that advocates have denounced as a retaliatory attack on press freedom. NYT
The judge in Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case expressed doubt that the federal government has the authority to continue to detain him. Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador before being returned to the US after protests and outcry. NYT
Ten people have been deported to Eswatani pending repatriation to their native countries, a continuation of the legally controversial third country removal program. Guardian
Deployment of national guard to US cities
National Guard troops begin to arrive in Memphis, TN. NYT
Illinois filed suit to prevent deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago. A US district judge ruled that troops can remain in Illinois but cannot be deployed pending further decision. Guardian
Trump has said the Illinois governor and Chicago mayor should be jailed for opposing the National Guard deployment. AP
Oregon filed a similar suit to prevent the Trump administration from using National Guard troops in Portland. US district judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the mobilization. NYT
Splitting with the Trump administration, the Republican governor of Oklahoma criticizes the deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago. NYT
Legislative changes and challenges
A new citizenship test with more questions and a higher passing threshold goes into effect on 10/20/2025. Murthy Law Firm
ACLU lawsuit alleges US unlawfully punishing immigrants at Louisiana facility know for "uniquely horrifying history." AP
Siding with plaintiffs in a class-action suit against ICE, a Chicago federal judge imposes limitations on arrests without warrants. NYT
California seeks to resist aggressive immigration agenda by increasing privacy protections. AP
Trump Administration
According to data obtained by Democratic senator Mark Warner, the Trump administration has reassigned nearly half of all FBI agents to immigration enforcement activities. Guardian
Since July, Florida governor Ron DeSantis has been saying that all detainees at "Alligator Alcatraz" have been through removal proceedings and been ordered to be removed. Directly contradicting this claim, in a recent court filing US government lawyers argue detainees at the facility have too many different immigration statuses to be considered a class. AP