Chicago council approves ballot question to recoup costs from ICE operations

By Sean Reed | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council considered multiple ballot referendums during its regular meeting Wednesday morning, including some which would gauge public interest in things like a statewide tax on millionaires and the potential for the city to recoup costs they say stem from ICE activity.

On ballots in Chicago, only three referendums can be listed during any given election, meaning there are limited spots for initiatives from aldermen in the typically polarized public body.

While the council already chose the other measures for ballots in November, there was heated debate over whose initiative would be put in front of voters in the final spot. The decision came down to a clerical matter.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed measure would have asked voters in the city if they support a proposed 3% tax on income earned by Illinois residents in excess of $1 million – which would be used to fund property tax relief and public schools.

The General Assembly didn’t advance the measure earlier this year due to a lack of support in the House Democrat Caucus, according to Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.

Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez intended for the referendum to be considered during the meeting Wednesday, but he filed to return it a day after it to be considered.

“I always refer to the rules of order. So I accept the ruling of the legal council. I think it shows the independence of the legal council. But also has shown the lack of integrity of some people who continue to block the millionaire tax,” Sigcho Lopez said.

The referendum chosen instead will ask if the city should “pursue all lawful means to recover financial compensation from the federal government for the costs and economic harm caused by the Donald Trump administration’s ICE operations.”

Alderman William E. Hall explained his reason for the ballot measure is because the September, 2025 ICE operations in the city cost the local government resources.

“It cost our city not only dignity, it also invoked the trauma that can never be paid for. But in addition to that, the resources spent to protect Chicagoans has not only cost us financially, but it has cost a lot of people a lot of nights of no rest,” Hall said.

The measure could allow the city to pursue federal reimbursement for lost tax revenue, public safety and other service costs incurred during Operation Midway Blitz. It passed with only one vote in opposition.

Having chosen all the measures for November, aldermen are also looking to secure future spots on ballots alongside the mayoral election in February.

In proposed measures, they would ask voters if the city should establish rank-choice voting, create a new monument, and establish separate legal counsel for the city council, and whether the city should withhold funding from sister agencies that don’t enforce employee debt repayment requirements.

Alderman Jason Ervin argued against the measures on the grounds that it’s too soon to consider them.

“Given the fact that we’re talking about an election that is almost a year out, the need to put referendum today not knowing what may happen between now and the time we legally need to do this […] I think it’s a little premature for us to move on this today,” Ervin said.

Despite Ervin’s argument, the council approved two questions to be placed on February ballots.

Argument was still sparked over if the council should have its own legal representation, fueled by recent frustrations from aldermen after being told by the city’s legal counsel that they couldn’t legally share information about the sale of the city’s parking meters between private entities.

There was less debate on the other passed measure, which would ask if the city should withhold funding to sister agencies, such as the CTA and Chicago Public Schools, if they continue to not enforce required employee repayment plans for debts owed to the city.

There will now only be one spot for an additional question to be added closer to the February election.