>> Hello and thanks for joining us in Chicago tonight, Latino voices.

I'm joined that non this.

Here's what we're looking at.

President elect Trump's border chief Costa Congo, ground 0 for mass deportations.

We get local reaction.

How a new law aimed at protecting noncitizens from discrimination is working.

5 wins and and what you should know about a new state of the art exhibit making you at the >> And now to some of today's top stories.

It's the nation's largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.

President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of nearly 1500 people and pardoning 39 others apart and relieves and individual of guilt and punishment.

While commutation reduces or eliminates the punishment but doesn't exonerate the wrongdoing.

The commutations announced today are for people who have served out home confinement sentences for at least one year after they were released.

Well, local commutation was former Dixon comptroller read a credit.

Well.

>> With FBI believes to have committed the largest theft of public funds in U.S. history.

Those pardoned today had been convicted of nonviolent crimes like fraud, theft or drug offenses.

And Biden says he's not done yet.

In a statement, he says he'll take more steps in the weeks ahead.

>> And the number of Chicagoans experiencing homelessness jumped 12% according to a new report.

The report from the Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness reveals more than 76,000 individuals were staying in city shelters on the streets or temporarily living doubled up with friends or family.

The report does not include a nearly 52,000 migrants who came to Chicago after requesting asylum.

The coalition homeless estimate is significantly higher than the official tally used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine federal funding in 2025.

The city plans to spend 21% more to address homelessness compared to this year as officials transition to a unified shelter system that will support both migrants in long-term residents who are unhoused.

In a recent update.

The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly 80 million dollars to a family whose 10 year-old daughter was killed the Spicer was killed during a Chicago police chase involving another vehicle in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood in 2020, her father and 5 year-old brother also sustained serious injuries.

According to Wbtw new city data shows that from January 2019 to August 2024, Chicago taxpayers has spent over 73 million dollars to settle lawsuits filed by residents injury during injured during police pursuits.

And despite the frigid temperatures, thousands of Catholics gathered for the annual celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

also known as a Virgin Mary churches across Chicago participated in the poker midge Wednesday night to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines for a mask at midnight, some Chicagoans even walked over 22 miles to reach the shrine, filled with flowers in candles to date moderates that Mary today, the Virgin Mary appeared before an indigenous man named Kwan vehicle.

In the 15, 100's for thousands of Catholics.

The Virgin Mary has become a symbol of strength and resilience known as a mother to Up next, how Chicago became ground 0 for Trump's deportation plan.

That's right.

After this.

>> Chicago tonight, Latino voices.

It's made possible in part by the support of these donors.

>> It's time for Chicago to come to the table or get the out of the way.

That was a message from Tom Homan.

President-elect Trump's President, Donald Trump's incoming so-called border czar during a visit to the city's northwest side this week, the Democratic city and state officials are pushing back as home in says Chicago will be ground 0 for mass deportations.

Joining us now with more are an Alderman Raymond Lopez of the 15 Ward, which includes Brighton Park Gage Park in back of the yards and aldermen goggles are murals of the 35th Ward, which includes Logan Square.

And Abdel, thank you both for joining us now, aldermen Lopez.

I want to start a new job you met with home in on Monday.

What did you discuss?

>> So on Monday join I had a private meeting with Tom Homan who will be coming in to address the border security for returning President Donald Trump and we discussed how we can work together to narrow the scope of what they are trying to accomplish.

President Trump said that he wants to deport those who are in this country illegally.

But I think their goal is to focus on those who are here, whether they're undocumented or are the asylum process with temporary protective status and are committing heinous, dangerous crimes in our country.

In our Those individuals we formally would turn over to federal authorities.

>> Under the old welcoming city ordinance that have been in existence for decades since the Lightfoot administration.

We no longer cooperate in any means.

And Holmen stated that without the ability to work with our law enforcement just on those individuals committing some of the most dangerous acts in our neighborhoods.

They are going to go after those individuals regardless, however, they may wind up getting some of the long term undocumented who are doing right in our city following the laws.

But nonetheless, we'll have to be taken.

And that's something that we desperately want to avoid happening and focus solely on removing those criminals committing those acts.

Once they are here.

>> And now the mayor made feel.

So what are your thoughts on on Alderman Lopez is is saying?

>> Yeah, I think first of you know, I think it's funny that home talking about criminals.

When we have a convicted offender in the White House with President Donald Trump at the same time, home and has said that he believes that all undocumented immigrants in the nation are criminals.

So he's casting a very wide definition of what it means to be a criminal.

Even though entering the country without proper documentation is not criminal act.

It is a civil violation, not a criminal violation.

So 2 Trump edge a home every single undocumented person in our communities, whether their mother, whether they're law-abiding individual, whether a property owner with their small business owner, they are criminals that need to be deported.

I also want to address what my colleague said that there are people abusing of temporary protective status.

That is a complete farce.

That is ridiculous statement to temporary protected status.

The status that is given to people whose home countries are in emergency situation.

It is given by the president of the United States ordered to provide those people with temporary protection while they are in this country.

So to say that people are violating, means that it's a bear individuals.

I sort agree there aren't lot I did not interrupt you, please.

No, I'm not going to lie to those wires that use you the My lot ally like the president that you support.

You said that people are abusing.

Yes, there's just no way that they are solely reality >> Well, lets get lit lets you know, I want to go to the next question.

You know, wide Rose.

I want I want to go this questions for you again.

Why do you think he's targeting Chicago?

First?

And he's, you know, Trump's mass deportation operation.

>> Well, look, I think that, you know, President Trump is repeating many of the same things that he said during his first term in office.

He said he wants mass deportations.

He's saying that he's going to have raids and big Democratic cities like Chicago.

Ultimately Trump deported fewer people than President Obama on a year-by-year basis.

And and ultimately the vast majority of undocumented immigrants are not criminals.

They come here to work.

They come here to build a family.

The property owners are small business owners.

And so if Trump were to have mass deportations, the impact would be devastating.

Our communities would see higher property taxes.

We would see small business quarters close down in our neighborhoods, including in the 15th board.

And so we do not want mass deportations.

And that is why we have to oppose Trump's policies because Trump's policy is one of mass deportations.

Home saying that every single person in this country without papers is a criminal.

That means they're targeting everyone in our neighborhoods.

And in addition to that, I just want to add their century city policy is a public safety policy.

No one should be afraid to call 9-1-1 if undocumented immigrants think that a call to 9-1-1, emergency will result in them being turned over to ice.

They're less likely to report an abuser.

They're less likely to report a shooting in the community.

They're less likely to call 9-1-1 when there's a fire.

So art centricity policy makes us all safer because it ensures that no one is afraid to call 9-1-1.

I has the resources that they need to target criminals.

If I just want to target criminals, they can use the investigative tools at their disposal to target the criminals that they feel are the priorities to be deported, but they should not be using our city resources.

They need to go towards public safety and he took the gold towards keeping everyone safe.

>> Now, girls, I want to go to Alderman Lopez.

You said there should be a conversation between Johnson and the Trump's administration.

Why do you think now?

What do you think could be accomplished during this conversation on?

Because it's clear there's we disagree.

People disagree on how to go about deportation plan.

>> Well, again, we want to focus on board meeting our efforts for public safety least.

That's something that is very sound correct from what my colleague said.

But only one of us is not in support of supporting criminals.

You cannot make regular undocumented long term undocumented individuals and put them in the same categories.

Those that are here shooting committing human trafficking, crimes against minors.

Why would anyone want to give those individuals protection is beyond me.

And those are the ones that we want to have.

Whether you are undocumented, whether you are legalize migrant for citizen.

Everyone agrees that those individuals do need to be here.

We are not trying to protect those individuals.

And if you allow the federal government to get those individuals extricate them when we arrest them on any of those crimes.

Yet the federal government has resources to go after them.

But there are also going to wind knocking on doors in my community.

And Carlos is and pass.

We get individuals are not looking for and I'm worried about them.

And it's a shame that those who come to pick ate the most least concerned about what's going on with the families that are going to be most impacted.

The fact of the matter join is very simple.

New York is already saying how can we work together so that we can narrow your scope?

California is saying even Governor Pritzker yesterday said how can we narrow the scope of what you're going to so that we can work together only want to work are saying no to President Trump at this point they do have was at a question that you also had with home.

And because as we know you did mention of there's over 500,000 undocumented workers living in Illinois.

How?

>> You know, what do what do you say to them?

Who are, you know, in fear or concerned?

>> What I can say is very simple that after speaking with home and their concern is right now going after the most violent individuals in our communities that we can remove that we can work together to address those who are long-term residents.

Those that were been promised a pathway out of the shadows by Democratic and Republican presidents and have never seen that happen.

Should not be concerned because those are not when they're most concerned about.

Additionally, we have also seen where President Trump has said twice now he's wearing working to create a path forward for Dreamers.

For those who've been forgotten about by all the politics of Washington, D.C., and if we can work together to help facilitate his goal and ours of bring a pathway for Dreamers, then we should take that opportunity to do so.

>> All Do you see any possible compromise compromises in terms of deporting someone who was convicted of a crime while in the U.S. >> So one thing I want to address is what my colleague said that the city of Chicago should not stop ice from detaining criminals.

People engaging in a trafficking, serious crimes.

There is no way legally that the city of Chicago can prevent that.

Ice has the resources that it needs to conduct investigations to figure again, that's a line and to be able to target their enforcement.

That is the reality.

The reality his allies as sources that it needs in order to go and figure out for the violent criminals that they want to deport.

The only you would need to use city resources is if you want to cast a wide dragnet that catches everyone.

The person who Jay walks, the person who's driving on a suspended license, the parcels, you are a liar.

And, know, know where the live your and ignored for years saying yourself, to give you should get absolutely a shame are still reading.

you are a lot injuries Plaza how to make arguments on the and Alderman Lopez.

I want to give.

>> You know, I I know we have 2 different opinions here in 2 different ways of thinking.

So I just want to end it at that.

This is all the time we have.

But thank you both for being on.

>> Thank you.

Thank Only one truth.

We're back with more right after this.

More than 155,000 standardize IDs and driver's licenses have been issued for non U.S. citizens.

>> Citizens in the last 5 months, it's part of a new state law that went into effect in July, replacing the temporary visitor driver's license backers of the law said that better open noncitizens up to discrimination.

Here to talk more about the application process and what this is, what new is with this new ad I'm sorry is Barbara Hernandez, State representative who represents the 50th District.

Thank you, Barbara, for joining us.

I want to start off.

It's been 5 months as we know.

Would you say has exceeded expectations.

>> Yeah, I would say it's been very successful and I'm very glad that we were able to Pappas in 2023. now, like you said, it's enacted in.

We just received a lot of amazing feedback from individuals individuals are applying for those the Standard ID and also the driver license.

How would you say has become a game-changer in some way?

>> Well, many families and in the past they had a an idea that the banner, the Purple banner that unfortunately they can not use that identification.

So because of this, they couldn't get the prescription drugs from a doctor's visit.

They couldn't I for rent or even mortgage.

They couldn't get bank account.

But now because that this obstacle was removed, they're able to do all of that, which is a great opportunity afforded that the families and also for Illinois to have streets become safer, but not really I that, but also be able to bring back to the economy and by purchasing a home having a bank account.

And like I said, just being able to take care of their health.

>> And you're really talking about the basics that people need to survive.

Not I I mean, I didn't know that.

That's that you couldn't do those things because of that better in the ad.

>> Yes, it's unfortunate.

Back 2014 when the original bill was created, only had no identification purposes simply for an officer.

So if you get pulled over you can use it and that way or for an officer to kind of have your identification, however, for anything else, you really couldn't use it.

>> Ken, the licenses be used to register to vote That's how does that work?

They cannot.

>> Know under this bill that we crafted in 2023, we did a lot provision that to prevent individuals from registering to vote, we change the system to make sure the privacy of the individual is also very safe.

So that's something that we were able But in the bill, like I said 2023, it's working.

We are seeing it right now.

I haven't heard any case, but I know there's there's a lot of out there, a lot of lies misinformation.

But no, this is something that we created thinking about potential issues that may arise and break it down.

For me who is eligible to apply?

>> What does the process look like?

>> And the vigils who are undocumented can apply.

But of course, they do need to provide some certain that identification.

But that could come from their home country.

So expire passport.

with that I've sort of ID a few people work of residency in Illinois, saw pretty much the same things that we need bring.

So Bill staying something that has your address on it.

All of those items are acceptable.

And why was important for you to push for this?

>> As for me, it something that hit home my family with and document the for 21 years.

So and how my parents struggled to be able to drive legally and this country during those 21 years and still having to be able to go a job and they were scared to get pulled over at any moment.

That was very hard for me the and I know a lot of families are going through that now even before.

So it's something that I know that we needed establish an Illinois and just move on with what we with the risk residents that are here.

They want to do a better.

have job and be able to just help families saying that.

So it's that's why it's very important.

just comes straight from home for >> And representative, have you seen any hasn't hesitancy to apply over concerns this would potentially put them on immigration agencies, radars.

>> It is something that I know we were concerned about and that's why we were able to put a provision that any public, any information that the secretary of state had.

someone wants to risk get the information of an individual that her son on that, it's him.

May have to subpoena.

They have to do a court order or a warrant or this information and they cannot give it to So that is a provision that we were able to add for safety for those family.

>> With that also work as we as we know what we've heard.

You know, Tom Homan has said of Mayor Johnson implements ICE efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.

He plans to prosecute him.

Is there a concern for state officials?

>> That is something I would leave to the governor our attorney general to figure out look a lot legal aspect of that.

I think there's always going to be a concern on on our end and how we do our job in making sure that we protect our families.

But my priority for me, I'm I'm not worried about that.

I'm I'm just worried about those that very vulnerable and state and we're just trying to make sure that we protect them.

>> You talked about your family.

You talked about that experience of having, you know, to dry without having a license and that fear that people might have, you know, what opportunities will these ideas create for for immigrants?

Would you say?

>> It would be safe or Safer Street community.

>> Advance and so on.

just give us mind of be able to really be relax a little bit more on this issue because I know a lot of people being discriminated >> against because they had a purple line and that meant something different than a standard ID.

But it's just clear in people's mind on this and being able to to help our community.

Like I said, it's it's going to be very impact in our community and to just be successful to be.

Able to help those and I'm just glad that I was able to be the sponsor of this bill.

>> Well, thank you, Representative Barbara Hernandez for joining us.

Up next, the Shedd Aquarium unveils a new exhibit.

We have a preview right after this.

For only the 3rd time in its nearly 100 year history.

The Shedd Aquarium is unveiling a new exhibit in its grand Rotunda.

Gone.

Is the Caribbean Reef, a much loved exhibit that since his debut in the 1970's has come to define a shed experience for multiple generations in its place is Water which features 2 huge tanks, replicating bowl, fresh water and salt water ecosystems.

I mean, how cool is that?

Our Patty, what Lee joins us now with more Patty.

>> That is awesome.

I just want remind people that the grand Rotonda is when you walk any wary, okay, the beginning of where you see all this Yes, really around.

Yes, really cool.

And it would everybody loved it.

A lot of people are upset that it was going away.

But it was starting to show its age, according to the shed.

You know, there've been a lot of advances in technology and also in animal care.

>> And they are going to be creating a whole New Caribbean reef experience.

But in the grand rotunda, we now have wonder of water with these 2 spectacular tanks.

just amazing.

Immersive Boston area.

What can people expect for wonder?

So one of the tanks, they're both like 28,000 gallons, each one is a salt water experience.

Kind of what you think of as oceans.

The other one, which is amazing.

What shed has done is they've uplifted are elevated the fresh water experience for people.

So they've now given equal weight, equal emphasis to both saltwater and freshwater ecosystems.

As I believe we're showing on screen.

So awesome.

I know.

I was looking We also now part from looking amazing.

Obviously there's deeper meaning to this exhibit, especially that this is on freshwater ecosystems.

>> Can you tell us a little bit more about that?

You know, shed their lake where the aquarium on the lake.

We need our freshwater experience to be as awesome as the salt water.

They've done that with their Amazon rising exhibit and now with wonder of water.

They really want people to be able to see in fresh water systems.

They're really hard to see into sometimes the really murky look in the Chicago River.

You cannot see your own hand under there.

But there's an amazing life under there, especially in both these exhibits, the light, the corals, the plant, they're all alive and they want people to be able to see what the plant life is like in these ecosystem so that you understand why organizations like Urban Rivers and Friends of the Chicago River are working to create habitat as well in the river because these animals, which you'll see in the exhibit, they really need and use in Eaton live all of these plants.

And so they want people to be able to see.

>> You know what's in our rivers?

What's in our lake and, you know, for the aquarium on the lake, it's really important for them to under one that air.

Yeah, it's in our own backyard.

You know, we really should care about these really cool assignment.

it was one area say, yeah, it was petty thing in.

>> And you can read patties full story on our website.

It's all at Www dot com slash news.

>> Did >> you guys spot in on one of take water tanks?

Super cool.

And that's our show for this Thursday night.

For more on that from or NEWSROOM is working you can follow us Instagram at Wdw Chicago could also stay connected by following a some blue sky and join us tomorrow night at 5.37, in 10 for the weekend review.

Now from all of us here at Chicago tonight, I'm joined that non this.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe one as much >> Closed captioning is made possible by law offices