Good morning, Chicago.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began targeted operations in Chicago on Sunday as part of a nationwide effort that federal officials said resulted in 1,000 people arrested.
The immigration blitz was action long promised by President Donald Trump who made mass deportation central to his campaign. Trump’s border czar Tom Homan designated Chicago — the nation’s third-largest city — as ground zero for his plans to round up immigrants in the country illegally and other groups at an unprecedented scale.
“It’s no secret that the new administration wants to target Chicago,” U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García has said. “They want to intimidate a city that would stand up for justice and protection for everyone.”
Here’s what to know about the ICE raids in Chicago — and how residents, politicians and more are responding.
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.
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‘You’re Dr. Phil.’ TV personality says he joined immigration raids in Chicago for ‘transparency.’
Partway through answering questions Sunday during an immigration enforcement blitz in Chicago, a man who appeared to be in federal custody briefly stopped talking when he recognized the man with the Texas accent asking the questions.
“You’re Dr. Phil,” the man said to television personality Phil McGraw, who, while standing alongside federal agents, peppered the man with questions about his citizenship and alleged crimes.
Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials did not respond to questions Monday about McGraw’s presence during the enforcement actions or the specifics of interactions with suspects that were disseminated on his platform and social media accounts. But in an interview with Tribune, McGraw, who spoke at a Trump rally just before last year’s election, said he was in Chicago to provide “transparency” for “a very targeted, surgical operation” aimed at people with criminal records who are in the country without legal authorization.
Justice Department says it has fired employees involved in prosecutions of the president
The Justice Department said yesterday that it had fired more than a dozen employees who worked on criminal prosecutions of President Donald Trump, moving rapidly to pursue retribution against lawyers involved in the investigations.
Indiana man convicted of Jan. 6 crimes fatally shot by police
A Hobart man who served six months in prison for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 was fatally shot Sunday by a Jasper County Sheriff’s officer — less than a week after he was pardoned by President Donald Trump.
Egg prices are soaring. Don’t expect that to change anytime soon.
Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. And it appears there may be no relief in sight, given the the surge in demand as Easter approaches.
Madigan is a man not a myth, defense argues, while calling key witness the ‘malignant tumor’ at the heart of the corruption case
As his attorney wrapped up a marathon closing argument yesterday, former House Speaker Michael Madigan sat stoic at the defense table, gazing at the jury with his usual legal pad and pencil at the ready.
“To me, he’s always been Mike,” attorney Daniel Collins said of the once-powerful and feared Democratic leader. “And there’s a reason for that. I see the man. I don’t see a myth. And I would beg you to see the man.”
As he did during most of the trial, Madigan betrayed little emotion at his lawyer’s personal flourish. After the jury left the courtroom, however, Madigan walked over to Collins and shook his hand, then broke into a smile and talked cheerfully with a group of supporters in the hallway.
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard worked to hide true condition of village finances, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says
Just months after her election in 2021, there was a “concerted and systematic effort” by Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard to hide the condition of village finances from trustees, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday.
In her final report on her investigation into Henyard and village finances, Lightfoot told some 200 residents and others the concealment continued and that, by March 2022, trustees “were effectively cut off from receiving regular financial reports.”
Coroner calls for Waukegan hospital death investigation
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said she has asked state officials to investigate the death of a patient who died of hypothermia in her medical gown on the roof of Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan last week.
Column: The Chicago Bulls finally benched Patrick Williams. The decision was long overdue.
When Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan benched Patrick Williams on Monday, the decision came as a surprise — not because it was unwarranted, but because it was so long overdue.
This should have happened weeks ago, writes Julia Poe.
- Zach LaVine in a multi-team deal? Nikola Vučević for a first-round pick? Bulls trade deadline options.
- Nikola Vučević leads the Bulls over the Denver Nuggets — and Matas Buzelis had a monster dunk
What is Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson inheriting on offense? A breakdown of the best and worst of 2024.
What is new Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson inheriting? Starting with the Bears offense in its current state, we look at the positives, the issues and the questions that need to be answered less than two months before free agency.
Here are the winners of the Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence
The Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence were announced Sunday, crowning Chicago’s top restaurants and chefs in coveted categories and bringing over 400 industry insiders together at Venue SIX10.
Percival Everett’s ‘James’ awarded Carnegie Medal for fiction
On Sunday, the American Library Association announced that Percival Everett’s “James” was this year’s winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, which includes a $5,000 cash award. Kevin Fedarko’s “A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon” was chosen for nonfiction.
Review: ‘Avaaz’ is a laugh-out-loud funny primer on Iran at Chicago Shakespeare
Michael Shayan must be among the funniest advocates for Iran and the language of Farsi that nation ever produced, writes Tribune theater critic Chris Jones. At least that’s the takeaway from “Avaaz,” this flamboyant performer’s joyful solo show in which his shimmering alter ego Roya (“the Persian mother you never had”) celebrates Nowruz, or Iranian New Year, and claims that the country of her birth invented “algebra, human rights, chess and religion,” even if the president believes that “gays don’t exist.”
