Nell Salzman

If you read @chicagotribune.com Friday you already knew the city was closing a controversial Kenwood shelter that housed migrants and later opened to all homeless people — city now acknowledges that shelter will shut and announces that another one by Midway airport will shut, citing federal funding

ICE took her mother. Now, a 6-year-old is left without a guardian or legal path back to reunite in Honduras. On June 4, her mother was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside an office in downtown Chicago during what was supposed to be a routine check-in.

6-year-old Gaby's mom was detained by ICE on June 4 outside an ICE office in downtown Chicago.

The young girl's mom missed her daughter's graduation.

w / @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social photos / Antonio Perez

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/22/i...

Mayor Brandon Johnson landed a teachers union deal. Was it worth it? Mayor Brandon Johnson’s critics are already pledging to pounce on his close alliance with the teachers union in the 2027 mayoral campaign.

A look into what it took to land the teachers contract this week, and whether the journey to get here was worth it for Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union.
w/ @aliceyin.bsky.social @jake-sheridan.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/04/m...

CPS, teachers union reach proposed contract deal after a year of tough negotiations The Chicago Teachers Union reached a deal with Chicago Public Schools on a new contract, capping off nearly a year of negotiations.

To get to this point took months of discussion and a drama-laden saga over a serious financial dispute:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/31/c...

CTU reaches a contract deal: What’s new and how it will affect CPS students The third-largest teachers union in the nation wrapped up bargaining for the first time in 15 years without a strike vote or strike.

CTU and CPS announced their agreement on a new contract Tuesday. It will cost about $1.5 billion over four years.

The deal includes investments for special education and bilingual students. It will expand sports and libraries across the district.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/01/c...

The ED's letter to dozens of schools came days after federal immigration authorities arrested a Palestinian activist who led protests at Columbia.

"This is not the principle of democracy that our country was founded upon," said Lucas, a junior at Northwestern who is Palestinian.

Federal warning to Northwestern: Protect Jewish students or face funding cuts Northwestern University was one of 60 schools warned of potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations to protect Jewish students on campus.

Northwestern University was one of 60 schools that received letters Monday from the U.S. Department of Education warning them of potential enforcement actions if they don't fulfill their obligations to protect Jewish students on campus.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/10/e...

The Tribune reviewed detainee information at two Midwest county jails that double as immigration detention facilities for people arrested in Chicago and elsewhere.

In some cases, people arrested do match individuals with serious criminal histories. But there are many like Jhony.

Despite pledges from the Trump administration that immigration authorities would target people with criminal backgrounds first, arrests of people by ICE without a criminal conviction or pending charge have risen during the early weeks of the Trump.

The hidden world of Chicago ICE arrests: One month after Trump's inauguration, a partial look at those detained As ICE refuses to provide basic information about the recent arrests in Chicago, jail logs offer a rare glimpse into the opaque immigration system.

On Jan. 27, Jhony, a Chicago resident, was brought to Clay County Justice Center by ICE. He'd had zero contact with law enforcement before being detained, his attorney said.

One month after Trump’s inauguration, a partial look at those detained: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/23/i...

Mayor Brandon Johnson escalates push for CPS to pick up pension payment, borrow more money The pension obligation has been the subject of years of dispute between the city and school district over which body should be responsible for the payment.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is instructing the school board to move ahead on accepting the costs of a $175 million pension payment, per a presentation sent by a city official.

How that pension payment is handled could impact CPS employee retention.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/19/c...

Despite fear and risk, Chicago advocates urge immigrants to keep court dates and ICE appointments: ‘it could be more devastating if they don’t go’ Stories of ICE pick-ups and expedited removals have in some cases led people to skip their immigration hearings in Chicago, advocates say.

Despite fear and risk, Chicago advocates urge immigrants to keep court dates and ICE appointments: “It could be more devastating if they don’t go.” By @nellsalzman.bsky.social and @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/15/c...

A Chicagoan’s journey through incarceration, deportation and the fight for ‘A New Path’ Lee Ragsdale advocated for the publication of a deportation guide for noncitizens navigating a reentry into the country they and family members once fled.

After watching her husband be deported by ICE and navigate reentry into Mexico, Lee Ragsdale wrote a guide with an in-depth explanation of the detention process’s logistics and suggestions for moving forward: reentryillinois.net/reentry-guid...

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/08/a...

Illinois SEIU passes resolution declaring itself ‘under attack’ by CTU The union has condemned a contract proposal by the teachers union that SEIU said would take jobs from their union and give them to CTU.

Against a backdrop of looming existential threats to both the Department of Education and federal labor law, in Chicago we have this situation:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/07/i...

with @nellsalzman.bsky.social and @royalpratt.bsky.social

CPS security video shows Secret Service trying to enter Chicago’s Hamline School CPS security video shows Secret Service agents trying to enter Chicago’s Hamline School, offering glimpse of an interaction that caused confusion and stoked fears.

CPS officials had a calm, seemingly friendly conversation with two U.S. Secret Service agents outside Hamline School hours before the district sparked a nationwide panic, according to recently released security footage.

W/ @ckubzansky.bsky.social

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/06/c...

A records search in Cook, Kane and DuPage counties did not turn up any felony arrests by men with the same name and age as Raul Lopez.

Under President Joe Biden, such “collateral arrests” were banned.

W / Laura Rodríguez Presa & Gloria Casas, Photos / @staceywescott.bsky.social

‘Why him?’ Undocumented father gets swept up, turned over to ICE during operation targeting someone else An undocumented Elgin father who has been in the country for more than two decades was swept up in a fugitive investigation targeting his stepson, a scene that was captured in a harrowing video tha…

‘Why him?’ Undocumented father Raul Lopez got swept up Tuesday and turned over to ICE during an operation targeting someone else.

Officers can now arrest people without legal status if they run across them while looking for migrants targeted for removal.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/30/w...

‘Why him?’ Undocumented father gets swept up, turned over to ICE during operation targeting someone else An undocumented Elgin father who has been in the country for more than two decades was swept up in a fugitive investigation targeting his stepson, a scene that was captured in a harrowing video tha…

“Why him?” she said she asked while holding their 3-year-old as agents handcuffed her husband. She said they responded: “We have to take someone.” @nellsalzman.bsky.social

‘You’re Dr. Phil.’ TV personality says he joined immigration raids in Chicago for ‘transparency.’ The presence of ‘Dr. Phil’ at Chicago federal immigration raids raise questions about the propriety of the operation and highlight a presidency that favors reality TV.

What in the world was Dr. Phil doing at the immigrant raids in Chicago Sunday? He spoke to to @petrellareports.bsky.social but questions about how appropriate it was remain. Story w/ @nellsalzman.bsky.social @jake-sheridan.bsky.social for @chicagotribune.com: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/27/d...

Thank you @cnn.com for having me on to speak about Chicago immigration enforcement actions over the past several days.

Please follow @chicagotribune.com and the work of my colleagues in their around-the-clock efforts on this developing issue.

‘People are scared’: Fear permeates every aspect of life in Chicago, under threat of mass immigration deportations Although no widespread immigration raids were reported here this week, the possibility — and reports that Chicago would be ground zero for enforcement — kept many of the region’s estimated 400,000 …

The threat of mass deportations under a second Trump administration has made many people forgo the essentials — work, school and medical care.

W/ @taliasoglin.bsky.social @angieleventis.bsky.social

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/26/t...

Reported ICE visit to Chicago school was actually Secret Service, officials say Chicago Public Schools prevented federal officers from from going into an elementary school on Chicago’s Southwest Side Friday and talking to students, according to school officials.

Reported ICE visit to Chicago school was actually Secret Service, officials say.

From CPS: "Two individuals showed up ... and presented identification that includes the name Department of Homeland Security, the federal agency that oversees ICE."

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/24/i...

How will Trump’s mass deportation promise affect my community and child in CPS schools? President-elect Donald Trump’s promise for the largest deportation operation in United States history — has sent a ripple of worry across communities.

CPS has acknowledged that many of its parents and students are facing this fear. It is preparing for any and all situations that may affect its student body.

Read how: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/20/c...

On Donald Trump Inauguration Day, migrant students in shadow of deportation Chicago’s migrant families prepare for Donald Trump promising the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, starting in Chicago.

Several undocumented and migrant parents said their kids have come home from school in recent weeks scared of deportation raids.

“They’ll say, ‘Mom, what’s going to happen? What if they catch us and deport us?’” said Willzuly, from Venezuela.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/20/m...

In their 90s, Sisters of Mercy have spent their lives fighting for immigrant justice. And they’re not stopping now. Sister JoAnn Persch and Sister Pat Murphy have devoted their lives advocating for local and federal immigration legislation to fix a broken system.

In their 90s, Sisters of Mercy have spent their lives fighting for immigrant justice. Now Donald Trump’s promise to enact mass deportations — potentially starting in Chicago next week — would go beyond anything they could have imagined.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/19/i...

A fragile haven: Venezuelan migrants face violence and uncertainty at Chicago housing complex Migrants fleeing violence in Latin America are finding violence and fear of mass deportations under a new Trump administration as they settle in Chicago.

Many migrants in Chicago fled violence, only to find more violence here.

With Trump promising the largest deportations in U.S. history, they are now bracing for what could be worse — potential expulsion from the country.

W/ @mandophotos.bsky.social:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/12/c...

New: A Cook County judge canceled today's scheduled preliminary injunction hearing regarding the alleged obstruction of CEO Pedro Martinez's job duties.

The new date was set for Jan. 21 at 10:30 a.m., after the newly elected and appointed school board members will be seated.

Crossroads of care: Special education assistants and teacher aides at odds amid CPS cuts The Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union Local 1 disagree on who is best for Chicago Public Schools’ special education students.

CTU’s proposal to expand TAs threatens the specialized work of SECAs, say SEIU Local 73 members.

"We’re not recess monitors. We’re trained for complex needs," said Cara Paliza, a SECA.

Students with disabilities are caught in the middle.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/07/u...

Alderman, advocates call for rescheduling of school board meeting Friday to oust CPS CEO A Chicago alderman and other advocates are asking the Chicago Board of Education to reschedule Friday’s special meeting to address CEO Pedro Martinez’s job status.

An alderman is asking the Board of Education to reschedule Friday’s special meeting — with two explicit options to either fire schools chief Pedro Martinez or offer him a settlement — in order to make sure people of all religious observances can participate.

📝 @nellsalzman.bsky.social