Chicago has a unique tradition: letting its citizens name the city’s snowplows. What began as a lighthearted contest has taken a decidedly political turn this year, revealing a deep current of frustration and opposition within the city.
While past years saw names like “Boaty McBoatface” inspire playful submissions, this year’s frontrunner is a stark declaration: “Abolish ICE.” Over 70% of the more than 9,200 votes cast so far champion this provocative name for a vehicle tasked with clearing the streets.
The surge in support isn’t simply about a dislike of snow-covered roads. It’s a direct response to escalating concerns surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and its increasingly controversial actions.
Recent incidents have fueled the fire. A mother, Renee Nicole Good, was shot during an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota. Images surfaced of ICE agents detaining a five-year-old boy, clutching a Spider-Man backpack, a scene that sparked widespread outrage.
The death of ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti at the hands of Border Force agents further intensified the criticism. These events unfolded against a backdrop of increased immigration raids authorized under recent federal policy, including within Chicago itself.
A recent poll revealed that over six in ten Chicagoans oppose the presence of ICE in their city, viewing it as a destabilizing and negative force. Nearly eight in ten believe ICE’s actions are making immigrant families feel less safe.
The naming contest quickly became a focal point for this discontent. Bebo, the city’s self-proclaimed “rat czar,” immediately submitted “ABOLISH ICE,” urging others to join the effort. The submission was met with a telling response from Mayor Brandon Johnson – an emoji of wide-open eyes.
Johnson, a vocal critic of ICE’s tactics, later publicly endorsed the idea, having previously described the agency as a “privatised force to enact terror.” The mayor’s stance drew a sharp rebuke from Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, who suggested naming a plow “Reality Check.”
Johnson’s response was swift and pointed: “Reality check, Greg: Chicagoans vote on the snow plow names. The same people who want you out of our city.” The exchange underscored the depth of the divide and the power of public sentiment.
Submissions for the contest closed on January 10th, with voting for the top 25 names scheduled from February 1st to 14th. Six plows will ultimately bear the names chosen by the people, potentially including a powerful and defiant message rolling through the streets of Chicago.
