The federal government decided to increase immigration enforcement in Chicago. This meant sending more federal agents to the city to find and arrest undocumented immigrants. This sudden, intense effort was called a crackdown. Many communities felt they were being targeted.
Agents began conducting raids in neighborhoods, sometimes early in the morning. They stopped people in public and demanded to see their documents. Because of these actions, a climate of fear spread across the city. Many residents, regardless of their immigration status, felt scared and unsafe in their own neighborhoods.
The aggressive tactics led to growing tensions between residents and federal agents. Community leaders and local politicians began to speak out against the raids. They argued that the federal actions were harming the city's economy and social fabric, as people became too afraid to work or go to school.
Some people organized protests to show their anger and to support their neighbors. These events were often documented with videos, which were shared widely online. The videos showed the confrontations and arrests, making the situation in Chicago a topic of national conversation.