Michael Guidotti will get his driver’s license when he runs the Chicago Marathon, just as he has done during every training run since the summer.
After the Trump administration She escalated her campaign against immigration In the city, runners like Guidotti, 31, worry about becoming a target during Sunday’s race.
“Just knowing that I come from a Hispanic background and I’m somewhat darker, these individuals seem to be targeting people in that demographic as well,” Guidotti said. “So this is just an extra precaution that I take to carry my driver’s license with me at all times.”
Questions have been circulating for weeks about whether… Immigration and customs agents You might be targeting the marathon, which attracts thousands of runners from around the world every year. Reflecting the concern, event organizers sent an email to participants Wednesday pointing to the “Know Your Rights” immigration page on the city’s website.
ICE spokeswoman Tanya Roman said rumors that agents were in the race are not true.
“It is absolutely ridiculous that ICE would conduct immigration enforcement to intentionally disrupt the Chicago Marathon,” she said in a statement. “These are the kind of rumors that fan the flames of dissent and lead to dangerous and unprovoked riots like those that occurred in Portland, Chicago and Los Angeles.”
But such assurances may not allay the concerns of some participants.
When Kristi Noem, who runs ICE’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, was asked last week if there would be “ICE enforcement” at the Super Bowl in February in California, Immigration officers said they would Be “all over” the event.
The Department of Homeland Security always heads security efforts for the Super Bowl, which is a larger event. But Chicago has become a major target of the Trump administration, which has stepped up immigration enforcement in the city through raids and aggressive tactics. The protesters were in immigration facilities ArrestedAnd President Donald Trump posted National Guard There to protect federal property and federal law enforcement, including ICE agents.
The Chicago Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the United States each year, and is a major tourist attraction for the city. There were 52,150 runners last year, including 15,000 international participants, according to race organizers, who did not respond to requests for comment. Among foreign countries, Mexico was best represented, with 3,790 participants. Followed by the United Kingdom (2,814), Canada (2,442), and Brazil (1,811).
The route passes through 29 neighborhoods, and more than a million people line the streets to support the runners.
Pilsen, a predominantly Latino neighborhood, is known for the energy that locals bring, with loud chants and mariachi music. But Enrique Rivera, who leads the neighborhood’s Venados Running Club and will be watching this year’s race, doesn’t expect the same energy.
“I’m pretty sure people will stay home,” he said. “There are street vendors who do not go out on the streets and make their sales that affect their lives. I am sure they will also be able to cut off recreational activities such as encouraging runners.”
Rivera said his club encourages runners to stay informed, keep a list of important contacts on hand, and run in groups. Some club members discussed what documents they should bring.
“There’s something in the air that says, ‘No, this doesn’t look right,'” he said.
Critics say the immigration crackdown, which has targeted people living legally in the country, Including American citizensIt’s sweeping government overreach, and that’s ICE Engages in racial profiling.
Participant Amar Shah, 31, said that despite being born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, he worries that his Indian heritage might make him vulnerable.
“I shouldn’t have any concerns legally, but I’m a dark man and I have a beard,” he said. “I could be seen as someone who fits the stereotype of people who are being targeted now.”
Michael Rodriguez, alderman for Chicago’s 22nd Ward, which is home to a large Latino community, said businesses are “hurting” amid concerns about ICE, and this year’s race may bring less economic activity to the city than usual.
“I’m concerned about those hundreds, maybe thousands of out-of-town individuals who are coming from all over the world and all over the country to run,” Rodriguez said. “The hotel rooms they stay in, the restaurants they eat in, and the money they spend in our city will be negatively impacted.”
“Some people may not come, others may choose not to spend their money,” he said.
City Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed confidence this week that the marathon would go off without a hitch, noting that nearly 3,000 runners from Mexico had registered, “and I want them all to come.”
“I have a strong feeling about our ability to be able to hold large-scale events, and the strategic security measures we are taking are to ensure we continue to maintain our reputation for hosting large-scale events,” the mayor said.
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Associated Press reporters Jay Cohen in Chicago and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.