Why it matters:
Demonstrations in two major U.S. cities reflect growing public backlash against Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement and militarized domestic policy. The protests signal rising concern over civil liberties, federal overreach, and the targeting of immigrant communities.
The big picture:
Residents in Chicago and Washington D.C. took to the streets Saturday following reports of immigration officers operating in both cities. In Chicago, protesters gathered near the Great Lakes Naval Base in response to Trump’s stated plan to intensify deportations in the city.
In Washington, thousands marched to demand an end to the National Guard’s presence in the capital. Protesters, including undocumented immigrants and Palestinian supporters, carried signs reading “Trump must go now,” “Free DC,” and “Resist tyranny.”
On Truth Social, Trump posted: “I love the smell of deportations in the morning,” alongside an image of himself in military gear with flames and the Chicago skyline in the background. The image included the caption: “Chicago will find out why it's called the Department of WAR.”
On Friday, Trump issued an executive order renaming the Department of Defense to the “Department of War.”
What they’re saying:
David Alvarez, a representative of a migrant advocacy group, said Trump’s rhetoric is having a chilling effect on communities: “Businesses are down. Restaurants are down. Everything is down. People are scared.”
“I am here to protest the occupation of Washington, D.C.,” said protester Alex Laffer. “We are against an authoritarian regime and we must get the federal police and the National Guard off our streets.”
What’s next:
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker warned that immigration raids may coincide with Mexican Independence Day celebrations scheduled for this weekend and next. Some events in the Chicago area have already been postponed or canceled due to fears of enforcement actions.
Hossein Amiri - Mahboubeh Habibi
