Chicago's Landscaping Community Under Siege: ICE Raids Spark Outrage
A shocking wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids has left Chicago's landscaping community reeling, as business owners and employees face harassment, intimidation, and arrest over allegations of immigration status. For many, the experience is a traumatic reminder that being an American citizen doesn't guarantee protection from these types of actions.
Rey, a landscaper with 10 years of service to Patch Landscaping, had his life turned upside down on a typical morning in October when ICE agents arrived at his workplace, slapping handcuffs on him and dragging him away. According to his boss, Kristen Hulne, Rey was simply doing his job – cleaning up a yard – when the group of masked men appeared.
The raid sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, prompting an outpouring of support from the community. But for many in the landscaping industry, this is just the latest chapter in a long saga of ICE raids and harassment. Marisa Gora, owner of Kemora Landscapes, described the situation as a "cat and mouse game" where landscapers must balance their work with the constant threat of deportation.
"It's an incredible burden on our industry," she said. "We don't know if they're going to come back in the spring." The executive director of Landscape Illinois declined comment, citing concerns for the safety and security of their workers.
For Lisa Willis, owner of MINDSpace, the experience has been disheartening. "As landscaping contractors, we're a targeted community," she said. Her industry associations have largely remained silent on the issue, leaving many to wonder if there's a concerted effort to protect or silence them.
The ICE raids have raised questions about the limits of government overreach and the protections afforded to American citizens. When asked if exercising his rights as an American citizen would put him or his business at risk, Hulne responded with outrage. "It's like living in Russia," he said.
Hulne's company, Larry Asimow Landscaping, has become a hub of activity for those seeking support and solidarity. The owner, who is also the godfather to one of Rey's American-born children, said he could no longer sit idly by while his employees faced persecution.
"We got good news from our lawyer," he said, comparing the ICE raids to Germany's "rounding up Jews" in the 1930s. Persecuting innocent people on false pretexts is unacceptable.
The case of Rey and many others highlights the need for greater protections and support for immigrant workers in this country. As Hulne so eloquently put it, "You can't just grab someone off the street like an animal because they're not a citizen." It's time for our government to take action and ensure that all American citizens are treated with dignity and respect.
A shocking wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids has left Chicago's landscaping community reeling, as business owners and employees face harassment, intimidation, and arrest over allegations of immigration status. For many, the experience is a traumatic reminder that being an American citizen doesn't guarantee protection from these types of actions.
Rey, a landscaper with 10 years of service to Patch Landscaping, had his life turned upside down on a typical morning in October when ICE agents arrived at his workplace, slapping handcuffs on him and dragging him away. According to his boss, Kristen Hulne, Rey was simply doing his job – cleaning up a yard – when the group of masked men appeared.
The raid sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, prompting an outpouring of support from the community. But for many in the landscaping industry, this is just the latest chapter in a long saga of ICE raids and harassment. Marisa Gora, owner of Kemora Landscapes, described the situation as a "cat and mouse game" where landscapers must balance their work with the constant threat of deportation.
"It's an incredible burden on our industry," she said. "We don't know if they're going to come back in the spring." The executive director of Landscape Illinois declined comment, citing concerns for the safety and security of their workers.
For Lisa Willis, owner of MINDSpace, the experience has been disheartening. "As landscaping contractors, we're a targeted community," she said. Her industry associations have largely remained silent on the issue, leaving many to wonder if there's a concerted effort to protect or silence them.
The ICE raids have raised questions about the limits of government overreach and the protections afforded to American citizens. When asked if exercising his rights as an American citizen would put him or his business at risk, Hulne responded with outrage. "It's like living in Russia," he said.
Hulne's company, Larry Asimow Landscaping, has become a hub of activity for those seeking support and solidarity. The owner, who is also the godfather to one of Rey's American-born children, said he could no longer sit idly by while his employees faced persecution.
"We got good news from our lawyer," he said, comparing the ICE raids to Germany's "rounding up Jews" in the 1930s. Persecuting innocent people on false pretexts is unacceptable.
The case of Rey and many others highlights the need for greater protections and support for immigrant workers in this country. As Hulne so eloquently put it, "You can't just grab someone off the street like an animal because they're not a citizen." It's time for our government to take action and ensure that all American citizens are treated with dignity and respect.
This is absolutely appalling, ICE raids on landscaping workers in Chicago? It's mind-boggling how a business doing its job can be put through this trauma. We need to acknowledge the systemic issues at play here & demand greater protections for immigrant workers 
The silence from industry associations is deafening, it's time for collective action 
ICE raids in Chicago landscaping community have me SHOOK 
. Like, I get it, immigration laws need to be enforced but targeting innocent people just doing their job? It's like a never-ending nightmare for these guys 
. These workers are the backbone of our communities and yet they're being treated like animals 
. Business owners are too scared to speak out because they don't want their own employees to get targeted next 
. We need some serious reform on this ASAP 
... The government needs to do more to protect people like Rey who are just trying to make a living 
This is getting out of hand... ICE raids on landscaping workers? It's not even related to their work, just their immigration status. What's next, raiding people at the grocery store or hospital because they're immigrants? 
It's like they're treatin' people like they're not even Americans anymore.
We need some real leadership around here, not just a bunch of bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo.
This is getting out of hand. ICE raids on landscaping companies? It's like, what's next? Targeting electricians or plumbers just because they're immigrants? 
It's like, what even is the definition of "immigration status" again? 
That's some serious stress right there. And what about the other landscapers who don't even know if they're being targeted or not? 
That's some serious failure right there.
. ICE raids on landscapers in Chicago? it's just so... invasive 
. Lisa Willis is right though, "as landscaping contractors, we're a targeted community" 
, unless you're just trying to stir up outrage 
. Larry Asimow Landscaping sounds like a total hero though, standing up for his employees like that 
. it's time for our government to step up their game 
.
. It's not about being undocumented it's about doing your job without any issues 
. And what's worse is that some of these people might be scared to even report anything because they're afraid of deportation 
.
. It's like living in a nightmare 
. The government needs to step up and protect its citizens 
, not create fear & anxiety 
(although, let's be real, that's not the point here 
). We need stricter protections for immigrant workers 
, like better access to healthcare 
and education 
. The landscaping industry can't keep living in fear 
!