EAST CHICAGO — A crowd of about 200 people is lined up outside East Chicago City hall holding signs protesting recent local activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents earlier this week.
The protest was organized by Purdue Northwest University student Rafael Manzo Jr., an 18-year-old who founded the non-profit “More Action For Students.” He said he had this protest scheduled in September, prior to this week’s uptick in ICE activity.
I’m at East Chicago City Hall, where a large protest opposing the recent reported ICE activity in the city and neighboring towns is planned to start soon. I’ll have updates throughout the day and full coverage on https://t.co/HJTSfsv9Ev. Stay tuned. #ice #chicago #protest @nwi
— Michael Howie (@bymichaelhowie) October 11, 2025
Crowd beginning to shrink
3:30 p.m. A large portion of the crowd remained, but the number of people began to dwindle about two-and-a-half hours into the protest.
Driver holding Trump flag makes appearance
3:06 p.m. No counter-protesters have participated so far, but one person holding a flag that said, "Trump Won. Save America" drove by while the crowd yelled back at them.
'Si se puede'
3:00 p.m. A portion of the crowd of roughly 200 people chants, "si se puede" which translates to "yes, we can."
Cars honking as they drive by protesters
2:45 p.m. Cars are seen in this video honking as they drive by protesters holding signs, beating drums and cheering.
Here’s the scene nearly 90 minutes since the protest got underway. pic.twitter.com/BNiymkKbxw
— Michael Howie (@bymichaelhowie) October 11, 2025
East Chicago City Clerk weighs in
2:30 p.m. Richard Medina, East Chicago City Clerk and long-time East Chicago PD veteran, said he's “never used a mask” to make an arrest.
“I arrested drug dealers, criminals and rapists, and I've done it all without a mask,” Medina said. “For 24 years in law enforcement, I never wore a mask. I was always proud to wear the badge and my name upon my uniform.”
Police driving by
2:00 p.m. East Chicago police officers are driving by occasionally appearing to monitor the event.
Officials in attendance
1:55 p.m. Local officials are in attendance including School City of East Chicago council members Vanessa Hernandez-Orange, Terence Hill, and Jesse Gomez. Dwayne Rancifer, a councilmember at-large is also at the protest.
When asked by The Times about his thoughts on the suspected ICE presence in the Hammond PD parking lot, Gomez said he was disappointed.
“I thought we should have been more proactive. This is not the first time ICE has been out in this Midwest area, and it was just a matter of time that it was going to happen here," Gomez said. "I thought the mayor of Hammond did a great job of responding immediately. Eddie Melton did a good job in Gary as well. I would have liked to see more aggressive support from the administration here in East Chicago.”
Growing crowd, no law enforcement
1:30 p.m. The crowd has quickly grown in under 30 minutes from a few dozen to nearly 100 people. No law enforcement officials appear to be there despite officials promising police presence in a joint statement between the city and East Chicago police Thursday.
The Thursday press release reads, "The East Chicago Police Department will be present during the protest to ensure public safety and safeguard everyone’s right to peaceful expression."
Megaphone chants
1:15 p.m. Sonia Martinez, 43, from Calumet City, is chanting into a megaphone, “Stop terrorizing our communities.” She is saying to the crowd they should know their rights when it comes to interacting with federal agents. “This is my community,” she told Times reporter Michael Howie.
Sonia Martinez, 43-year-old Calumet City resident, attended the protest outside East Chicago City Hall Saturday, Oct. 11.
Protest begins
1 p.m. East Chicago officials ahead of the protest, which began at 1 p.m. Saturday outside of the local government building, 4525 Indianapolis Blvd., urged for a peaceful demonstration.
East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland, in a statement responding to Thursday's reported ICE presence in the city, said he wants the community to keep the peace.
"I urge our residents to remain calm and not engage with ICE agents, either verbally or physically," he said.
A group of people on Saturday, Oct. 11 held signs and flags outside of city hall, 4525 Indianapolis Blvd in East Chicago.
Earlier this week
Suspected ICE agents were first seen on Thursday morning in the parking lot of the Hammond Police Department, 509 Douglas St., but were quickly booted off of the property by Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.
"It is deeply concerning that federal agents would enter and use Hammond’s property without permission — especially when the Federal Courthouse is located just one block west of our police headquarters," the mayor said.
The agents that same day were seen at La Rancherita Bakery in East Chicago and in a publicly accessible section of the East Chicago Police Department parking lot. Videos in each of those locations show masked men dressed in vests labeled "POLICE" appearing to arrest two men. One man was put into handcuffs inside La Rancherita Bakery and was put into an unmarked vehicle, which then drove off.
Multiple videos circulating social media on Thursday show masked officers who appear to be ICE agents arresting people in East Chicago.
On Friday morning, North Township Trustee Adrian A. Santos said suspected federal immigration agents temporarily set up Oak Hill Cemetery at 6445 Hohman Ave., in Hammond.
The officers "staged" in the back portion of the cemetery, but were gone by noon, Santos said. It was unclear from the township's statement whether the officers were asked to leave or left on their own.
Officials across East Chicago, Hammond and North Township said they did not receive prior notification that federal agents would be in the area.
