Chicago is preparing for an influx of vehicles and people downtown who will be out celebrating Mexican Independence Day.

Protesters gathered Tuesday at Congress Plaza to denounce the White House’s new immigration crackdown, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz.

Protesters continued to flood downtown Chicago in the wake of DHS announcing a major ICE operation to target undocumented migrants in the city.

It comes as various community groups continue to criticize operation "Midway Blitz," the name given to the stepped-up immigration enforcement effort that the Trump administration has said will target the "worst of the worst" criminals who are not in the country legally.

The Loop will host a robust lineup of events this weekend, from Taste of Chicago to the Printers Row Lit Festival. But potential federal activity could curb foot traffic.

Protesters also opposed Trump's threats to deploy National Guard troops to fight crime in Chicago, which would be an extraordinary effort to militarize the country's third-largest city. On Wednesday, however, Vice President JD Vance said there were "no immediate plans" to send the National Guard to Chicago.

A soon-to-be-remediated 41-acre contaminated brownfield near the northwest corner of Sheridan Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in North Chicago is scheduled to become a mixed-use development and gateway to the city’s downtown.

Clinée Hedspeth, the head of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, said the pause in next year's NASCAR will allow the city to return the popular food fest to mid-summer.

Chicago Bears boss Kevin Warren says the team's future home will be in Arlington Heights. Read his entire letter to the NFL team's fan base.