CPD Supt. Larry Snelling attending hearing on accusations of collaboration between CPD, ICE to answer questions
Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling was set Thursday to attend a hearing about accusations that the Chicago Police Department collaborated with federal immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz, despite the Welcoming City Ordinance.
The Chicago Police Department says its officers never assist with immigration enforcement, but CPD officers were seen at the scene of some immigration enforcement and protests last fall. The department said they were there fore crowd and traffic control.
But their visibility triggered questions about the role of CPD as it related to immigration enforcement in Chicago, which is a sanctuary city.
On Thursday night, Snelling will have the opportunity to set the record straight in what will likely be a packed room.
A chanting crowd showed up for a January meeting hosted by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, a police watchdog group.
The meetings give Chicago residents an opportunity to voice their anger over Chicago police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection interactions.
Snelling did not attend the January listening session, but he will be present on Thursday night. CBS News Chicago caught up with him Thursday morning to ask how comfortable he feels with how his team handled the ICE raids last fall.
"I do believe they have [followed the welcoming city law]. This is something new. When the Trust Act and Welcoming City Ordinance was created, no one accounted for this kind of activity arriving in the city," he said.
He also said he'll take any of the criticism his officers face, and said they are working "extremely hard" to keep Chicago safe. He said he wants to be at the meeting in person to answer questions, not have a subordinate do it.
Organizers of the meeting apologized for hosting it during Passover, writing on Facebook, "Given the urgency of what we've been hearing from our most impacted communities- including reports of increased enforcement activity, we felt it was important to hold this conversation as soon as possible."
The meeting starts at 6 p.m., and will be held at Thomas Kelly College Prep, at 4136 S. California Ave. at Archer Avenue. It will be recorded and posted within 24 hours.
People can also attend virtually.