Trump's Immigration Raids Could Disrupt Key Sectors Of Chicago's Economy: Pritzker Says To Focus On Criminals, Not Law-Abiding Workers

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker reaffirmed his commitment to protecting immigrant residents lacking permanent legal status in response to President Donald Trump's promised crackdown, which was expected to get underway in Chicago.

Pritzker says he supports deporting individuals convicted of violent crimes but not law-abiding workers who are living in the country without permission.

"I want criminals off the streets, and law enforcement officers to do their jobs," the Democratic governor said in an interview with NBC Chicago published Tuesday. "Undocumented people who are law-abiding and holding down jobs shouldn't be arrested just because they're undocumented."

Pritzker's remarks counter plans by Tom Homan, Trump's proposed border czar, who has pledged to dismantle state and local policies limiting federal enforcement. While fears of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have intensified, no verified reports of immediate actions had surfaced as of Wednesday, according to WBEZ Chicago.

Read Also: Trump’s Immigration Plan Faces Multi-Billion-Dollar Hurdles And Delays According To WSJ

Negative Impact On Chicago’s Economy Could ‘Last For Years’

Trump's deportation policies are expected to disrupt key sectors of Chicago’s economy, heavily reliant on immigrant labor. The hospitality and restaurant industry is preparing for potential ICE raids, though fears and misinformation have already reduced business activity and patronage.

Bloomberg reported the second busiest retail corridor in Chicago, normally a bustling area with taco shops and Mexican grocery stores, is like a ghost town.

"It's going to be disastrous," said Jennifer Aguilar, who heads the local chamber of commerce and spoke with a number of the 400 or so businesses in the area. "If raids happen and people are too afraid to go out, it's going to be an impact that's going to last for years."

McDonald’s Corporation MCD, which is headquartered in Chicago, could face operational challenges and decreased consumer spending as the result of fear within immigrant communities.

Beyond Chicago, Illinois' agricultural and food processing industries could also experience supply chain disruptions.

Companies like Caterpillar Inc. CAT and Archer-Daniels-Midland Company ADM, which rely on global as well migrant workforces in their supply chains, could be affected by Trump’s threatened deportations.

Private Prisons Continue To Fare Well

Private prison operators like GEO Group GEO and CoreCivic CXW, the two largest in the U.S., both have contracts with ICE to house detained undocumented individuals. According to a 2023 ACLU report, over 90% of migrants detained by ICE are held in privately owned facilities. As such, both companies’ stocks are on the rise over the last year. Geo and CoreCivic were trading lower Wednesday.

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Photo: Andreas Stroh on Shutterstock.