>> as we mentioned earlier, some city council members are trying to scale back protections for undocumented immigrants in Chicago.

The proposal comes from to older people who have long opposed the city's status as a self-proclaimed sanctuary city.

The move comes as President-elect Donald Trump has promised to launch mass deportations in his second term.

But how exactly did Chicago become a sanctuary city?

And what does it mean?

Joanna Hernandez explores the topic in our W T Tw News explains series.

>> for decades Chicago has held the designation of a state city.

But what does it mean and how has Chicago status indoors, the term sanctuary city reverse any jurisdiction that discourages limits or denies cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

There are currently hundreds of sanctuary communities in America and 13 same jury states.

Where did they come from while Berkeley, California claimed the title of first same jury city in 1971.

The sanctuary city movement really began popping up across the country in the Mid 1980's as President Reagan focused on identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants, churches opened their doors to provide shelter in resources for Central Americans fleeing civil war and violence in Chicago becoming and remaining a stranger.

Every city has been a bit of mayoral tug of Mayor Harold Washington first declared Chicago a stranger every city in 1985.

Via executive order.

>> The order prohibited police and city employees from questioning residents about their immigration status and terminated cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Some argued the policy shielded convicted criminals from deportation.

And in the 1990's, Mayor Richard Daley interpreted the policy to allow city officials to provide immigration information to the Fed's is the subjects were involved in serious crimes.

Chicago, same tree policies when from executive order to a strong law with the 2006 welcoming city ordinance in 2012, Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the city council weaken the law, allowing police to work with federal officials in limited cases I election in 2016 President Donald Trump threatened century cities with the loss of federal dollars.

Nevertheless, Chicago City Council voted to reaffirm ordinance under Mayor Lori Lightfoot and expanded welcoming ordinance close the loopholes open by Daley and Emanuel banning all police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Chicago enters its 40th year as the same tree City Mayor Brandon Johnson has reaffirmed Chicago's commitment.

And today thousands of refugees and undocumented immigrants have found a safe haven in Chicago.

A point of pride for those who believe offering sanctuary is a matter of human rights.

The point of consternation for those see it