President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he was directing the National Guard to deploy to Portland, Oregon to protect federal immigration facilities against "domestic terrorists,” saying he was authorizing them to use "full force, if necessary.”

"Two agents chased one guy down our neighborhood street with guns drawn," Bobby Fisher, the homeowner shared. "This is a home they surrounded with guns. I have children."

Agents knocked down ladders trapping workers on roof, at least one was seriously injured after jumping off. "All workers were rounded up and just taken away indiscriminately - there was no checking." The ICE raid occurred in the Naperville suburb of Chicago, Illinois.

“They are seizing people using firearms, physical violence, and warehouse detentions. Nor are undocumented immigrants the only ones harmed by the Government’s conduct,” Sotomayor said. “United States citizens are also being seized, taken from their jobs, and prevented from working to support themselves and their families.”

In early September, masked federal agents, some wearing "ICE" badges, arrested people in Chicago, calls for internal investigations have begun..

Several thousand demonstrators marched past Trump Tower in downtown Chicago on Saturday evening, September 6, 2025, protesting President Donald Trump’s threats to send ICE agents and the National Guard to the city. The protest drew about 3,000 people, many hoisting handmade signs, pictures and flags that showed support for Mexican Independence Day.

"I'm here for my father. It's not criminals being taken off the street. It's families being ripped apart." -Tracy Quinonez, whose father recently died and came to the U.S. from Guatemala as a refugee

I hold dual citizenship in the United States and Brazil, with valid passports from both countries. My mother is 90 years old, sick, and lives in São Paulo, Brazil. I would love to go and see her, and help take care of her. However, even though I am an American citizen who has lived in this country for over twenty years, I am not going to go. I have too much fear that I will not be allowed back in the United States. My family, who is with my mother, is also telling me not to risk coming to see her. I am terribly upset and fear I will never see my mother again

Customs officers can ask about your immigration status when entering or leaving the country. If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) who has maintained your status, you only have to answer questions establishing your identity and permanent residency. Refusal to answer other questions will likely cause delay, but officials may not deny you entry into the United States for failure to answer other questions.

Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington, D.C., has shared the results of its investigation into the processing times that immigrant workers now face when applying for green cards. In short, employer-sponsored green card applications average processing length had risen to 1,256 days, or 3.4 years, at the end of the second quarter of 2025—compared to 705 days (1.9 years) in 2016. In addition, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is dealing with an unprecedented backlog of immigration cases, reaching a record 11.3 million pending applications. According to the Cato Institute's report, even applicants who pay a $2,805 "premium processing fee" now wait almost two years on average before making it out of the "government's regulatory morass."

“I am eighteen and just graduated from high school. I am scared that my mother (undocumented) will be arrested and I will have to care for my younger brother (seven) who has trouble speaking and taking care of himself for the rest of my life.” -S.T., Michigan

Currently, there are an estimated 5.62 million U.S. citizen children with an undocumented household member and a large majority (85%) of these citizen children are younger than 15. In addition, 2.66 million citizen children live in a home that the only in-household parent(s) is/are undocumented.

Dr. Francis Collins, former director of the National Institutes of Health, reflects on our fading compassion and the need to reclaim it if we hope to flourish as a society.

Dr. Collins appeared on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” July 17, 2025.

“It is horrible. It is sh*t. We have a text group to advise each other and couldn’t believe that on Sunday ICE were in town at the laundry mat. They took a man that I know well and they also came to our church. On Saturday, they came to my neighbors’ homes. They have never come as close to our houses, church or laundry. It is just horrible, really horrible. We are all afraid and just go to our jobs but don’t even feel safe coming home to our houses.”

"The New Colossus," a sonnet by Emma Lazarus (1849-1887), was written in 1883 to support the construction of the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. In 1903, the poem was engraved on a bronze plaque for the pedestal's lower level.

Source: “Emma Lazarus: Selected Poems and Other Writings” (2003)

When I think about ICE raids and mass deportations in the U.S., it honestly breaks my heart. These aren’t just “operations” or “policies,”, they're real moments that tear families apart. Imagine being a kid and coming home from school to find out your mom or dad is gone. Imagine living every day with fear in your chest, not knowing if today’s the day someone knocks on your door and takes away someone you love

"ICE out of LA!" -This chant is prominent at protests in Los Angeles.

“Shame! We are not the enemy! We are the people!” -Protesters’ signs and chants

"Now they know that they cannot go to anywhere in this country where our people are, and try to kidnap our workers, our people - they cannot do that without an organized and fierce resistance." -R. G., LA Protestor

“Tasted a little tear gas— tasted like fascism.” -Acyn Torabi, Senior Digital Editor for Meidas Touch

"ICE initiated enforcement actions on several workplaces. That created a sense of chaos, outrage, fear, and terror because people are very worried as to what happened to their families." -Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass

“War on brown people" -Los Angeles Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez

“Growing up in LA, I’ve seen how deeply immigrants are woven into the fabric of this city. They are our neighbors, friends, classmates, coworkers, and family. No matter where you fall politically, it’s clear that our communities thrive because of the contributions of immigrants. We can’t turn a blind eye when fear and injustice keep people from living their lives freely and safely…. There HAS to be a BETTER way.” -Kim Kardashian

“The situation in Los Angeles has calmed down after what a county official called “probably one of the most volatile nights” in the city. CNN witnessed police using flash-bangs and tear gas to disperse crowds, with some hitting protesters, as well as protesters setting self-driving cars on fire. Police have declared all of Downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly area after arresting dozens over the weekend.”