loading . . . LITTLE VILLAGE — Neighbors in Little Village are literally blowing the whistle on immigration agents in their community as federal agents stage operations and have detained hundreds of people locally in recent weeks.
The Little Village Community Council has been hosting “know your rights” workshops since January to help neighbors defend against immigration sweeps in the neighborhood, home to one of the largest Mexican-American communities in the Midwest for decades.
In June, after consulting with Los Angeles residents who have recently experienced immigration raids and a militarized federal law enforcement presence, the Little Village group added a new tool to its efforts: a bright orange whistle.
“We had the idea of coming out with a whistle so people could hear that noise, and if they don’t have legal status, go the other way — run as quickly as possible to safety and to make sure they don’t open their doors,” said Baltazar Enriquez, president of the Little Village Community Council.
A group of neighbors gather each Wednesday evening at the Little Village arch, 3100 W. 26th St., to distribute the whistles during the group’s “know your rights” workshops. About 1,200 whistles have been given out by the council, Enriquez said.
“And other people started buying the whistles on their own and started passing them out, too,” Enriquez said.
Federal agents drive a U.S. Customs and Border Protection van at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency’s office at 1930 Beach St. in Broadview, Ill. on Sept. 10, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
The Little Village group was inspired to use the whistles after talking to people in Los Angeles, where President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard earlier this summer. People from Los Angeles told the Little Village group they believed federal agents used stingray technology — which can monitor cellphones to collect personal information — during recent enforcement activity.
Federal immigration officials have been documented using the “invasive” technology since at least 2020, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. The technology can “mimic cell-phone towers and force any cell phones in the area to give up personally identifying information — including phone numbers and unique device identifiers — all without an owner’s knowledge or consent,” according to the Chicago Reader.
“So we said, ‘OK, if that happens here, how do we warn people?” Enriquez said.
Chicagoans have tried to keep up with ICE sightings across the city, sharing information with each other and other rapid response groups.
“Even people that have a legal status are scared because ICE will just come and kidnap you. It’s like a cartel type of action,” Enriquez said. “They’ll throw you in their car and they don’t explain anything to you.”
ICE spokesperson Tanya Roman declined to share the total number of people who have been taken into custody since President Donald Trump’s administration began Operation Midway Blitz earlier this month.
But on Tuesday, Rep. Lauren Underwood said ICE has made 250 arrests as part of the operation, according to ABC7.
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