A dead rat and a threatening note referring to immigrants as 'vermin' were left outside the office of Chicago Alderman Andre Vasquez, who chairs the City Council's Immigrant and Refugee Rights Committee. The incident occurred Sunday night amid heightened tensions as immigration officials conduct raids in the city.
The note, taped to the door of Vasquez's 40th ward office, read: 'Move the illegals and the rats out of the 40th ward! They are both Vermin!' It also expressed support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating: 'Support ICE! Their work will get illegals out of our country and lower taxes.'
Vasquez described the act as unprecedented, telling CBS: 'I think it's the first time we've seen something this level.' In a Facebook statement, he said the threat is being taken seriously and is under investigation by the Chicago Police Department. He affirmed that the ward office would remain open and that he remains committed to serving the community and supporting immigrant rights.
The threat comes as the Trump administration conducts Operation 'Midway Blitz' in Chicago, targeting individuals described as 'criminal illegal aliens' due to Illinois's sanctuary policies. Last week, a man was shot dead by an ICE agent during a raid after allegedly driving his car into officials.
Vasquez had previously criticised the operation, writing on Facebook: 'We don't need or want ICE in our city.' He expressed hope that the perpetrator would be caught so he could discuss their motivations, noting that the mention of lowering taxes suggested someone struggling financially. Police said three detectives are investigating, but no arrests have been made.
