Chicago City Wire

The federal government has the ability to improve living conditions in Chicago, but this would require a shift away from high-profile enforcement actions and a focus on more substantive reforms. Recent immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump has given Democrats material to criticize what they see as harsh tactics and disregard for civil liberties. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have been accused of using these events to divert attention from local challenges.

Tom Homan, who leads federal border efforts, noted that when local authorities do not work with federal agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is forced to conduct broader operations. "That is exactly the controversy Pritzker and Johnson seek: Images of ICE agents at doorsteps, shifting blame to Washington, and casting Illinois as the victim," the article states.

The writer previously argued in the Chicago Contrarian that President Trump should avoid public confrontations with Illinois officials and instead focus on concrete improvements for city residents. However, the administration has continued with actions that some view as political theater rather than policy reform.

Recommendations include having ICE "step back and ignore political theatrics" while concentrating on measurable impacts—particularly in areas where local leadership is seen as falling short, such as public safety and education.

One suggestion calls for expanding federal oversight through a consent decree covering all aspects of Cook County's criminal justice system—not just police activities but also prosecutors, courts, and county leaders. The aim would be greater transparency across a system described as failing Black communities disproportionately: "While only 29 percent of the population, they account for over 75 percent of shooting and homicide victims. Black women represent 16 percent of the population but comprise nearly 30 percent of violent crime victims."

The article highlights that many violent crime suspects are released pretrial only to be charged again with serious offenses while awaiting trial. Under Toni Preckwinkle’s leadership at the county level and Kim Foxx’s tenure as State’s Attorney, policies have reportedly prioritized defendants over accountability. The city has paid over $1.1 billion since 2008 in police misconduct settlements.

A proposed solution involves both expanded federal oversight via a consent decree for Cook County courts and increased coordination among agencies such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and Homeland Security to prosecute repeat violent offenders federally.

On education issues, the article criticizes an ongoing U.S. Department of Education investigation into Chicago Public Schools’ “Black Students Success Plan.” It describes this plan as an effort to address disparities among Black students—a practice it argues is best supported by evidence—and claims that focusing on alleged discrimination misses broader structural issues.

Criticism extends to teachers unions’ influence over school policies—removing standardized tests from key decisions and opposing school choice options like charter schools or scholarship programs targeted at low-income families. Charter schools serving predominantly Black and Latino students reportedly receive less funding per student compared to district-run schools.

"This is institutional racism by outcome," it states about how poor communities are limited in their educational choices due to union opposition: "Federal intervention in the form of a consent decree is necessary to dismantle an education system that locks poor children...into failure determined by family income and zip code."

In conclusion, according to the article: "The federal government can do much to improve life in Chicago...This requires focus and discipline, not enforcement stunts or theatrical confrontations." The author urges federal leaders not to be distracted by political conflicts instigated by state or city officials but instead pursue strategies aimed at real progress in public safety and education.