Controversial ‘MAGA’ and ‘ICE’ Signs Targeting Immigrants Emerge in North Chicago and Waukegan Suburbs

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) — Recently, ominous signs have been spotted on light poles and trees throughout Waukegan and North Chicago, beginning last Monday.

As residents remove some of these signs, others mysteriously reappear. This ongoing issue has now caught the attention of local law enforcement in both communities.

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One of the signs features a shark with “ICE” scrawled above it, while another depicts a crudely drawn alien over target practice images, accompanied by the word “MAGA.” These signs started appearing in Waukegan over a week ago.

“This is a direct threat to undocumented individuals,” stated Pastor Julie Contreras of United Giving Hope. “It suggests that someone is ready to take violent action.”

Aurora Flores, a Waukegan resident, mentioned she has personally removed around a dozen of these signs.

“Upon discovering one, we decided to look further and found many more in front of various homes and high-traffic areas,” Flores explained.

Surveillance video from the area near Ridgeland and Jackson appears to show someone with a ladder putting up one of the signs in the middle of the night. The time stamp partially blocks the footage.

“I recognized immediately the shark imagery that they tend to use. It shows birthday balloons so that children take notice and then can be frightened by the words written on it,” Flores said.

Residents gathered in Waukegan on Sunday to speak out against what they view as a clear threat to the immigrant community. The first reports started coming in from North Chicago, where new ones appeared overnight, drawing the attention of police there.

“I happened to look out the window and saw one car, police sitting right there. And then, another pulled up,” said North Chicago resident Cordell Wise.

Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham spoke out against the signs and whomever is behind them.

“This is not acceptable for anybody, regardless of what side you want to be on, freedom of speech. This is pure hatred,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham encouraged anyone who comes across the signs to call police to report them. He told residents not to try to take them down themselves, saying instead to wait for the authorities to do so.