A student newspaper at a prestigious university has quietly launched a unique project: an interactive map tracking the movements of federal immigration enforcement agents. The University of Chicago’sThe Maroonbegan documenting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sightings on October 21st, creating a visual record of their presence in surrounding neighborhoods.
The map isn’t simply a display of locations; each point represents a reported ICE activity, linked to a specific address and timestamp. Clicking an icon reveals details of what transpired at that location, building a detailed picture of enforcement operations in the area.
But the map is more than just observation.The Maroonis actively soliciting information from the public, requesting documented evidence – photos and videos – to verify reports of ICE activity near campus and within the community.
The newspaper assures potential sources that their identities will be protected, with contact information accessible only to the editorial team. This commitment to anonymity is crucial, given the increasingly charged atmosphere surrounding immigration enforcement.
The situation in Chicago has become particularly volatile in recent months. Federal authorities have reported an astonishing 8,000% increase in death threats directed at ICE officers, highlighting the intense animosity some feel towards the agency.
The University of Chicago itself recently found itself embroiled in the controversy when a professor was arrested during a protest. Associate professor Eman Abdelhadi faces felony charges of aggravated battery against a police officer and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest.
The arrest occurred outside a detention center in Broadview, Illinois, where left-wing activists have been consistently clashing with immigration authorities. Prior to her arrest, Abdelhadi publicly condemned ICE, accusing the agency of “terrorizing” local communities.
In a podcast appearance just days before her arrest, Abdelhadi delivered a stark message, stating there was “no center left” and individuals were either actively resisting or passively complicit. Her words reflect a growing polarization surrounding immigration policy.
The university has remained largely silent on the matter of Abdelhadi’s employment status, declining to comment on whether she continues to teach. This silence has fueled speculation and further intensified the debate.
While the university maintains thatThe Maroonoperates as an independent student publication, both the newspaper’s top editors declined to offer any comment on their ongoing ICE tracking project or the surrounding events.
