DEEP FREEZE: Dem-Run City Names Its New Snow Plow, Of Course It’s Political

Chicago officials have named one of the city’s newest snowplows “Abolish ICE,” a decision backed and celebrated by Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson as part of a citywide naming contest.

Johnson announced the winning entries Monday, crediting residents for their “unmatched creativity, sense of humor, and civic pride” after more than 39,000 votes were cast. But one name in particular stood out: “Abolish ICE,” which accounted for roughly 70% of submissions, around 9,200 entries. The name is a direct reference to calls from the political left to eliminate Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and comes as the Trump administration ramps up deportation efforts nationwide.

Johnson had previously thrown his full support behind the name, saying it aligned with the city’s broader political posture. “As a city we have stood firm on our values,” Johnson said. “We have to take a stronger look at how this administration has used ICE and how it has caused tremendous harm.”

That posture has defined Chicago’s response to federal immigration enforcement over the past year. In 2025, the city became a flashpoint during “Operation Midway Blitz,” a large-scale federal crackdown that triggered protests, political clashes, and, at times, violence.

In one incident during the operation, federal agents were reportedly “rammed by vehicles and boxed in by 10 cars,” according to the Department of Homeland Security. One of the individuals involved was armed, and agents were forced to fire defensive shots. Authorities also said local police declined to assist federal officers in securing the scene as crowds gathered.

Elsewhere, protesters were seen obstructing enforcement actions, including an incident in which an agitator threw a tear gas canister toward federal agents. The confrontations underscored the deep divide between federal immigration authorities and local leadership in Chicago.

Illinois’ sanctuary policies have further fueled that divide, with state and city officials repeatedly criticizing ICE operations while limiting cooperation with federal enforcement. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) has accused federal authorities of “causing chaos,” while the Trump administration has argued local resistance undermines public safety and immigration law.

Against that backdrop, Johnson’s embrace of “Abolish ICE” as an official city snowplow name reflects more than a tongue-in-cheek contest entry; it signals a continuation of Chicago’s broader opposition to federal immigration policy and general anti-ICE sentiment among urban left-wingers. 

Other snowplow names selected through the contest included “Stephen Coldbert,” “Pope Frío XIV,” “The Blizzard of Oz,” “Svencoolie,” and “Caleb Chilliams.” 

The announcement came as Johnson was also addressing ongoing concerns about violent crime in the city, including cases involving illegal immigrants, following the murder of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, allegedly at the hands of an illegal alien.

“You automatically think about your own children,” Johnson said. “There’s no words that one could express that could properly console a family that lost their baby.” Johnson emphasized that his administration would “continue to pray” for victims while pledging to “double down” on efforts to create safer communities, even as he maintained that Chicago remains a place “where young people are thriving and growing.”

“It’s ungodly what happens in the streets across America with gun violence,” he added, pointing to his administration’s broader gun rights restriction approach, while acknowledging that in this case, “that hard work did not result in their child still being here.”

The juxtaposition — elevating a politically charged slogan on city equipment while confronting, or failing to confront, ongoing public safety concerns — highlights a central tension facing Chicago and other “sanctuary” cities: how to balance activist-driven messaging with the core responsibility of protecting residents.