Chicago City Wire

The City Council meeting held on Thursday, Nov. 2 to discuss the possibility of placing an item removing Chicago’s “sanctuary city” status on a referendum ballot in the 2024 primary election devolved into contention and chaos. 

The Chicago GOP issued a press release criticizing the meeting, accusing Democratic officials of obstructing the democratic process.

“Today’s Special Meeting of the City Council to consider placing ‘sanctuary city’ status on a Chicago-exclusive referendum ballot in the 2024 primary election was nothing short of a disgrace to the Johnson Administration and its Democrat allies, as democracy itself was assaulted,” the Chicago GOP said in a press release.

“First, Democrats in Springfield put every possible piece of pressure on Chicago Aldermen to stop the meeting. Once that failed and a quorum was present, Socialists used every tactic possible on site, right down to shutting off the lights in the Council Chamber!”

“Quorum calls, a delay tactic that forces a roll call of the Aldermen, and parliamentary arguments by Mayor Johnson’s Floor Leader, 35th Ward Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa stalled the initial proceedings for hours, but the desire of attending Aldermen to let the people decide the sanctuary city issue by referendum appeared to be unstoppable.”

“But then, the lights went out. After someone threw a switch only the emergency lighting was available, preventing the meeting from continuing, so it was adjourned to Tuesday morning.”

The Chicago Republican Party is keeping a close eye on the situation and is prepared to participate in the meeting if it takes place on Tuesday.

“It felt like a South American junta was intervening to stop democracy,” Chicago Republican Party Executive Director Jeff Fiedler said.

“It is ironic that so many illegal aliens crossing our border come from Nicaragua and Venezuela, fleeing from authoritarian socialist regimes, only to come to Chicago where American Leftists are trying to establish the same thing,” remarked Chicago GOP Policy Director Chris Myers, who attended, as well.”

“If the meeting occurs on Tuesday, the Chicago Republican Party will be there.”

The chaotic scene saw accusations and shouts fly across the chamber, with lights being turned off amid debates about what constitutes a quorum. 

"The policy was set back in 1987,” said Ald. Brenden Rilley. “Things have changed dramatically. I don’t think people ever envisioned 20,000 migrants sent to Chicago in buses.” 

While some argued for citizens' right to vote on Chicago’s decades-old sanctuary city status, others deemed it counterproductive creating flared tempers.

Ald. Ray Lopez, who is vying for a seat in the 4th Congressional District, criticized how the meeting unfolded calling it an "abuse of power" aimed at hindering democracy.

“In no uncertain terms, this was despicable,” he said. “This was an abuse of power by people who claim to be different, claim to be good government, doing everything they can to stop democracy.”

Ald. Silvana Tabares from Chicago’s 23rd Ward declared her intention to help place the referendum on the March primary ballot so residents could vote on the sanctuary city status. Tabares, who is also opposing a tent city for illegal immigrants in her ward, started a petition to voice concerns about a migrant shelter in her district, citing issues like population density, school overcrowding, and strained public safety resources.