Chicago federal workers use lunch hour to protest ICE raids, citing safety
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — Federal workers rallied Wednesday afternoon, demanding changes from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The workers want to see ICE raids end.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

They feel working for the government is becoming dangerous.

Some federal workers spent lunch hour sharing concerns about working in proximity to ICE, as actions by ICE agents have drawn criticism and protests.

The group, represented by their unions, rallied on Federal Plaza against ICE actions.

They say working in federal buildings puts them at risk.

“The public is confusing us, and they don’t have confidence that they can safely interact with us,” stated Colin Smalley from the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.

Recent arrests by ICE agents sparked protests in Chicago and other parts of the country. Some have become violent.

The arrests and deportations are a mandate from the Trump administration to get criminals out of the country.

While there are inquiries about who is being detained and the reasons for it, some federal government employees express concerns about being mistakenly identified by the public or even ICE agents.

“The fact that they’ve deported citizens has me terrified,” said Luis Antonio Flores, with American Federation of Labor, Local 704.

Flores said he and colleagues have been sent home early due to protests, and he says he’s concerned his ethnicity could make him a target.

“As someone with a Latino name and brown skin, it’s not unreasonable to worry that if they are arbitrarily detaining people to meet a quota, I might be picked up on my way to work, lunch, or home,” said Flores.

The lunch hour ended, and the workers returned back to their duties in their federal offices.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Eric Andre Atlanta airport racial profiling lawsuit revived

Eric Andre’s Racial Profiling Lawsuit at Atlanta Airport Reopened

The 11th Circuit released a decision indicating that comedian André and actor…
US-backed Gaza aid group launches reservation system after Trump calls for innovation in warzone deliveries

Gaza Aid Group Implements New Reservation System Following Trump’s Call for Innovations in War Zone Deliveries

FIRST ON FOX – The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-supported aid…
Foolio murder: Suspect's trial delayed until October

Delay in Suspect’s Trial for Foolio Murder Case Pushed to October

Jury selection was slated to begin in Hillsborough County Monday in the…

Three Utah officers wounded in shooting, suspect apprehended

TREMONTON, Utah (AP) — Three police officers were injured in a shooting…
Bryan Kohberger arriving at a court hearing.

550 Newly Released Idaho Documents Reveal Bryan Kohberger’s Favorite Movie: A Chilling Murder Rampage Film

DISTURBING new details have surfaced in the Idaho murder case after the…
Mother's story questioned by authorities as 7-month-old remains missing after alleged kidnapping

Authorities Skeptical of Mother’s Account as 7-Month-Old Goes Missing After Reported Kidnapping

Authorities are now scrutinizing a California mother’s narrative about her 7-month-old son’s…
Zelenskyy-Trump meeting: Ukraine's leader brings Europe's top leaders with him to meet Trump on ending Russia's war

Zelenskyy Meets Trump: Ukraine’s Leader Accompanies European Heads to Discuss Resolving Russia’s Conflict

WASHINGTON — The future of Ukraine may depend on an urgent meeting…
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, aviation officials break ground on new O'Hare airport concourse

Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson and aviation leaders begin construction on a new concourse at O’Hare Airport

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson attended a groundbreaking event on…

Missing Emmanuel Haro’s Mom: Ex-Husband Claims ‘Only She Knows the Truth’ as ‘Abduction Story for 7-Month-Old Changes’

The inquiry into the supposed kidnapping of a 7-month-old boy has taken…
Labubu warning: Fake dolls known as Lafufus pose choking hazard, death threat to kids says US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Labubu Alert: Imitation Dolls Called Lafufus are a Choking Risk and Potentially Dangerous for Children, Warns US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Counterfeit versions, sometimes referred to as ‘Lafufus,’ can break apart easily, releasing…
Has America Had Enough of the Race-Baiters?

Is the U.S. Growing Wary of Divisive Rhetoric on Race?

There it was again—Monday arrived, and with it, more divisive conversations. Joy…
Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy meeting in the Oval Office.

5 Mistakes Zelensky Should Avoid in Trump Talks to Prevent Another Oval Office Confrontation

THE stakes could hardly be higher for Ukraine’s president as he heads…