By: Dr Avi Verma

U.S. Senate candidate and sitting Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi is calling out the Biden-Trump transition administration and ICE leadership after he and Congressman Jonathan Jackson were blocked from conducting an oversight visit to a South Loop Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Tuesday. The visit came amid growing alarm in Chicago’s immigrant communities following reports that more than 200 individuals received misleading messages instructing them to report to the facility — some of whom were detained upon arrival.

“This deceptive and harmful tactic is sowing fear and panic across Chicago’s immigrant communities,” said Rep. Krishnamoorthi. “People deserve transparency, due process, and constitutional protections — not threats, deception, and detention without clarity.”

The lawmakers’ concerns were heightened by the current political climate, with former President Donald Trump — now the GOP’s presumptive nominee — vowing what he calls “the single largest mass deportation program in history,” with cities like Chicago targeted for enforcement crackdowns. According to Krishnamoorthi, the alerts sent to immigrants mimicked routine ICE check-in messages, creating a “trap” that led to immediate detentions and confusion among families waiting outside the facility.

What began as a routine oversight visit turned into a standoff when ICE officials refused entry to the two Congressmen, who are entitled to access federal facilities for oversight purposes. In a startling move, ICE reportedly called the Chicago Police Department to remove the lawmakers, accusing them of trespassing.

“ICE’s actions raise alarming questions about transparency and accountability,” Krishnamoorthi said. “It is unconscionable that elected officials were denied the right to carry out lawful oversight duties.”

He pledged to continue demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security and pushing for legislative oversight of what he described as “calculated, cruel tactics” being deployed in communities that already feel under siege.

“No Kings” rally: Protests against Trump’s return to power

Krishnamoorthi also joined constituents this past weekend at No Kings rallies in Geneva and Arlington Heights, where demonstrators decried former President Trump’s authoritarian rhetoric and criticized federal spending priorities. The protests coincided with Trump’s taxpayer-funded military parade in Washington — an event Krishnamoorthi called “a spectacle to distract from real issues like cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and essential services.”

“Americans want dignity, democracy, and support for working families — not tanks in the streets,” he told a crowd in Geneva.

Krishnamoorthi reacts to being named in Minnesota assassination suspect’s notes

In a deeply troubling development, Krishnamoorthi confirmed that his name appeared in the writings of a suspect involved in the recent assassination of a Minnesota elected official and her husband.

“This brutal attack was devastating and terrifying,” he said. “Political violence has no place in America — full stop.”

Calls for oversight after assault on Senator Padilla

Krishnamoorthi and fellow House Oversight Democrats are also demanding that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem testify before Congress following the violent detention of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla by plainclothes agents — an incident that was captured on video. Despite identifying himself, Padilla was allegedly shoved, handcuffed, and removed from a DHS press conference in Los Angeles.

In a joint letter to Oversight Chair James Comer, Krishnamoorthi and colleagues warned of escalating executive overreach:

“The Trump Administration has violently tackled, kneeled on, and handcuffed a sitting U.S. Senator. Any other American could be next.”

They urged Comer to subpoena Secretary Noem if she does not voluntarily testify by June 21.

Looking ahead: Oversight, accountability, and a fight for civil rights

As Congressman Krishnamoorthi continues his Senate campaign, he says he is doubling down on oversight efforts and protecting the rights of immigrant and marginalized communities.

“I won’t stop until we shine a light on these abuses of power,” he said. “Illinois and America deserve leaders who stand for justice — not fear.”