Following is a statement from Lawrence Benito, executive director at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, in response to ICE's announcement against “sanctuary cities,” including Chicago:

"ICE is now planning to bring in more occupying forces into our communities. Their latest attempt to equate immigrants with criminals continues to be racist and hateful. Public safety requires trusting relationships between law enforcement and community members. Cities like Chicago know that when police cooperate with immigration enforcement, they lose the trust of immigrant communities, and witnesses and survivors will not come forward—to the detriment of all residents. Rather than threatening cities that welcome immigrants, ICE should respect our communities and our local policies regarding how to best provide safety. We will continue to resist ICE’s shameful attempts to terrorize our families and neighborhoods, and we will work to further ensure that our cities are welcoming for all."