Illinois state worker says AFL-CIO is 'placing itself in the path of federal law enforcement' with 'Immigration Response Training' set for Jan. 27
An upcoming “Immigration Response Training” promoted by the Illinois AFL-CIO, the state’s largest labor federation, and the Chicago Federation of Labor has raised concerns among at least one state employee and union member, who said the messaging surrounding the event blurred the line between voluntary union education and ideological pressure tied to state employment.
The training is scheduled for Jan. 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Chicago Laborers’ District Council offices in Burr Ridge and is being offered to state employees represented by the Illinois AFL-CIO, including members of AFSCME Council 31, which represents more than 90,000 public-sector workers statewide.
According to an email obtained by DuPage Policy Journal, union leaders described what they characterized as an “influx of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) terrorizing our workplaces, our schools, and our communities,” and encouraged members to attend either in person or virtually.
Union leaders said the training would provide “clear, practical information about workers’ rights, immigration rights and guidance on how to respond if ICE appears at a workplace.”
The message closed with a call for “solidarity” and was signed by Illinois AFL-CIO leaders Tim Drea and Pat Devaney.
An anonymous state employee and union member said the tone of the message went beyond notification and created implicit pressure to participate.
“I sensed that there is pressure by use of guilt and coercion where it is made to seem mandatory to attend the meeting as part of the job or union membership and non-attendance means siding with evil,” the employee told the DuPage Policy Journal. “This thought is a constant due to continuing use of state and union resources to spread messages to workers against Trump, MAGA, Republican or conservative actions or values and ICE.”
“I believe that it needs to be explicitly stated that attendance is optional, that workers are entitled to their own political views and that attending these events should be done on one’s personal time, not on taxpayer-funded time,” the employee said.
While acknowledging the email was sent through union channels rather than official state communications, the employee said the distinction has become increasingly difficult to discern.
“As the message was sent to my personal email, where most union business is sent per the contract, I recognize the distinction. However, the messages sent by the union do not differ much in tone from messages sent to us via state employer communications to ideologically counter Trump’s proposals and actions, like when the Big Beautiful Bill is mentioned and blamed for every seemingly adverse policy the state must follow, with Trump mentioned by name in a disparaging manner to evoke emotional reactions to public policy we must adhere to, in ways I have never witnessed before under other administrations,” the employee said.
The training comes as federal immigration enforcement has intensified in the Chicago area under Operation Midway Blitz, which has resulted in the detention of thousands of illegal immigrants, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Nationally and at the state level, the AFL-CIO has reportedly expanded immigration-related response training and raid-preparedness materials for union members.
Critics say those efforts carry added significance in Illinois, where organized labor plays a major role in state politics through endorsements, voter outreach and campaign funding.
During the 2024 election cycle, Illinois political campaigns raised roughly $600 million in itemized individual contributions. An analysis by Capitol News Illinois found $67.4 million came from 15 union-affiliated groups.
The employee alleged coordination between unions, advocacy organizations and the governor’s office on immigration-related efforts.
“Since the borders were open under the Biden administration, there has been a lockstep message, organization, and even funding of the harboring of illegal aliens in many ways, under the guise of 'sanctuary city' policies that allow for coordination in formal and informal ways between unions, advocacy groups and the governor’s office,” they said.
The employee said many workers quietly opt out of union-sponsored political activities but are reluctant to voice objections.
“I think most employees that I know are comfortable opting out but not pushing back in a vocal way,” they said. “However, I think most employees who are convinced of loyalty and objectivity of the union are likely fanatically compelled to involvement.”
The employee drew a distinction between educating workers about their rights and what they view as mobilizing opposition to federal law enforcement.
“I think that workers rights have not been jeopardized by federal enforcement, however the union is placing itself in the path of federal law enforcement for reasons that are not within the parameters of our labor contracts,” they said. “The idea seems to be to link the workplace to federal law enforcement by hypothetical scenarios where ICE may detain workers.”
The employee said the scenarios described by the union do not align with their understanding of the state workforce.
“To my knowledge, there are no undocumented workers, or at least there should not be, at our sites, and in no other scenario would the union organize against or interfere with law enforcement in cases where an employee became the target for violating the law,” they said.
Asked how representative the concerns are among union members, the employee said most are disengaged, while a smaller group is dissatisfied.
“I think the average worker is indifferent to the message, with a small number voicing disapproval of the unions’ tactics and focusing on issues they feel are not their concern,” the employee said. “I believe due to the public position of government officials, agency administration and the union, many more would be vocal but there is a mostly unspoken fear of retaliation.”
The employee’s comments come as concerns over political rhetoric have intensified amid confrontations involving ICE nationwide.
Federal officials have reported threats and violent incidents targeting ICE personnel, including confrontations at the Broadview ICE Processing Center, where protesters allegedly chanted “kill ICE” and attempted to breach the facility.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has drawn criticism from federal officials for comparing immigration enforcement actions to authoritarian regimes. He has urged residents to document encounters with ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers, saying the state has a responsibility to preserve evidence of potential civil rights violations.
The employee said such language contributes to hostility toward law enforcement.
“As the message has become stronger that ICE is akin to Nazis or the gestapo, from our own Governor Pritzker and other authorities, there is fear and panic being spread recklessly, and in doing so dehumanizes law enforcement and makes physical confrontation against law enforcement a moral duty and a fight for ‘survival’ that very well makes most people emotionally and subconsciously compelled to abandon any respect for the lives and wellbeing of federal agents and law enforcement on the federal or local level,” they said.
Critics have argued Pritzker’s rhetoric has contributed to a heightened political climate following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, citing his past remarks comparing political movements to authoritarianism.
In his February 2025 State of the State address, Pritzker said, “The authoritarian playbook is laid bare here: They point to a group of people who don’t look like you and tell you to blame them for your problems,” and warned, “If you think I’m overreacting and sounding the alarm too soon, consider this: It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours, and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic.”
At the time, Republicans said the language was provocative and contributed to an environment in which political violence is normalized, renewing calls for Pritzker’s impeachment.
The employee also cited policing trends in Chicago following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and the passage of the SAFE-T Act.
“There has been an uptick in people openly attacking police and disobeying lawful orders,” the employee said.
The employee said the broader environment has been isolating for workers who do not share the dominant political ideology.
“It has been very difficult and alienating to not agree with liberal ideology and respect the authority of the President of the United States and federal law in Illinois,” the employee said. “Every communication regarding federal and state-level overlap has been contentious and borderline political campaigning for the likes of J.B. Pritzker. Meanwhile, U.S. citizens who we are supposed to serve and protect are being placed in harm's way financially, legally, mentally and physically.”