Jumping into the debate over President Donald Trump’s actions on DACA on Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told the Windy City’s school children that they should not fear deportation when they are at school. City schools, Emanuel proclaimed, are “Trump-free” zones.
“To all the Dreamers that are here in this room and in the city of Chicago: You are welcome in the city of Chicago. This is your home. And you have nothing to worry about,” Emanuel told students at Solorio Academy High School, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Chicago, our schools, our neighborhoods, our city, as it relates to what President Trump said, will be a Trump-free zone. You have nothing to worry about,” the former Obama Chief of Staff continued. “And I want you to know this, and I want your families to know this. And rest assured, I want you to come to school … and pursue your dreams.”
Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool had a similar message for the city’s school children about Trump’s repeal of Obama’s illicit Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
“This school is a sanctuary. We do not allow federal agents on these grounds and in this building. You are safe and secure here to learn, to grow and to pursue your dreams and we hope that you do so,” he said.
Neither Emanuel nor Claypool needed to speak out on DACA for any reason but political optics, however. The entire state was declared off limits to federal immigration officials when Republican Gov. and candidate for re-election Bruce Rauner signed a bill last month making the whole state a sanctuary state.
The Land of Lincoln has some detractors of the new sanctuary state law, though. A group of six Republicans recently filed a bill to repeal Gov. Rauner’s sanctuary state law.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.