Salt trucks were not deployed to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Chicago's administration said on Monday, countering viral social media videos suggesting otherwise.
The city said the trucks were in place “to support public safety efforts related to a planned protest and the Taste of Chicago,” calling it a “routine practice,” as quoted by NBC.
The weekend saw thousands of people protest in Chicago against potential ICE activity and the possible deployment of the National Guard. Videos showed fleets of salt trucks in Chicago, with some social media posts claiming they were being used to block ICE and federal immigration enforcement.
US president Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social showing himself in front of the Chicago skyline with helicopters and flames, captioned with references to “Apocalypse now” and deportations. He also referenced his recent executive order to rebrand the defence department as the Department of War.
The post drew strong criticism from Democratic leaders. Governor Pritzker called it a threat against an American city. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also condemned the remarks, saying the president was attempting to undermine the constitution.
On Sunday, Trump downplayed his post, saying, “We’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities… That’s not war. That’s common sense.”
An aide to Illinois Governor J B Pritzker said there were reports of some federal law enforcement arrests, but no evidence of a major surge in immigration enforcement. Pritzker said Illinois State Police had received a call from Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino warning of potential federal operations in the coming week.
Democratic officials have repeatedly criticised Trump’s plans to send federal law enforcement to Chicago, pointing to falling crime rates in the city. According to the latest data reported by NBC, homicides are down 31% from last year, shootings down 37.4%, and total violent crime down 21.6%.
The city said the trucks were in place “to support public safety efforts related to a planned protest and the Taste of Chicago,” calling it a “routine practice,” as quoted by NBC.
The weekend saw thousands of people protest in Chicago against potential ICE activity and the possible deployment of the National Guard. Videos showed fleets of salt trucks in Chicago, with some social media posts claiming they were being used to block ICE and federal immigration enforcement.
US president Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social showing himself in front of the Chicago skyline with helicopters and flames, captioned with references to “Apocalypse now” and deportations. He also referenced his recent executive order to rebrand the defence department as the Department of War.
The post drew strong criticism from Democratic leaders. Governor Pritzker called it a threat against an American city. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also condemned the remarks, saying the president was attempting to undermine the constitution.
On Sunday, Trump downplayed his post, saying, “We’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities… That’s not war. That’s common sense.”
An aide to Illinois Governor J B Pritzker said there were reports of some federal law enforcement arrests, but no evidence of a major surge in immigration enforcement. Pritzker said Illinois State Police had received a call from Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino warning of potential federal operations in the coming week.
Democratic officials have repeatedly criticised Trump’s plans to send federal law enforcement to Chicago, pointing to falling crime rates in the city. According to the latest data reported by NBC, homicides are down 31% from last year, shootings down 37.4%, and total violent crime down 21.6%.
You may also like
Mizoram: Governor VK Singh lauds PM Modi for Bairabi-Sairang railway line project
Jaya Kishori's Key Insights on Avoiding Common Success Pitfalls
CM Shri Admission: Admit card released for CM Shri entrance exam for class 6, 7 and 8; Exam will be held on 13 September..
India plays vital role in our progress, says Sri Lanka Minister
Top seeds Mertens, Kudermetova stunned in Guadalajara
