The city of Chicago deployed salt trucks to a peaceful protest and the Taste of Chicago festival on Saturday, a routine practice to support public safety efforts at events where large crowds are present, a spokesperson for the city Department of Streets and Sanitation said.
Rumors circulating on social media over the weekend suggested the fleet of trucks had been deployed to block off federal immigration activity as the city prepares for a sweeping crackdown.
President Donald Trump has signaled that he may authorize the use of military assets, specifically the National Guard, as part of a stepped-up operation by federal agencies under the Department of Homeland Security, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, anticipated to begin as soon as this weekend. But as of Sunday afternoon, there was no evidence of widespread ICE activity.
The spokesperson said the trucks were present at an anti-Trump protest that drew thousands downtown and the three-day food festival in Grant Park.
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