Zareen Syed
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zareensyed.bsky.social
Zareen Syed
@zareensyed.bsky.social
chronically indecisive Chicago Tribune reporter usually writing a mix of education, food and stories centering underrepresented groups ✉️ [email protected]
Reposted by Zareen Syed
Oh my god. He's a BLUESKY ELDER
This labeller never misses
November 5, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Marcos Carbajal, owner of Carnitas Uruapan, is operating at a loss. Ambrocio Gonzalez of La Catedral Cafe said he won't let anyone in wearing a gator/ski mask. And a hospitality group is reporting a 35%-40% loss in sales since September. The restaurant industry has been hit from all sides. More:
ICE pushes Chicago restaurants in immigrant neighborhoods into survival mode: ‘We are dying a slow death’
The Tribune spoke to several restaurant owners about the impact of immigration enforcement on their businesses and on diners. The blow to foot traffic is widespread across the city, but was felt mo…
www.chicagotribune.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
Intense immigration enforcement continues to ripple across the Chicago area as part of the Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz.” And the restaurant industry has been feeling the impact: Significantly fewer customers are dining in and businesses are operating at a loss.
ICE pushes Chicago restaurants in immigrant neighborhoods into survival mode: ‘We are dying a slow death’
The Tribune spoke to several restaurant owners about the impact of immigration enforcement on their businesses and on diners. The blow to foot traffic is widespread across the city, but was felt mo…
trib.al
November 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
At a growing number of cafes and restaurants in Chicago: 'Everyone is welcome, except I.C.E.' ✍️ my latest
Cafes, restaurants across Chicago put up signs barring immigration agents
For restaurant and cafe workers, many of whom are immigrants, the looming threat of unannounced visits by ICE has created anxiety and uncertainty about their future.
www.chicagotribune.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
"Everyone is welcome, except I.C.E." Cafes, restaurants across Chicago put up signs barring immigration agents. A story of the times from @zareensyed.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/14/c...
Cafes, restaurants across Chicago put up signs barring immigration agents
For restaurant and cafe workers, many of whom are immigrants, the looming threat of unannounced visits by ICE has created anxiety and uncertainty about their future.
www.chicagotribune.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
It’s a small, but mighty sign: “Everyone is welcome here, except I.CE.”

Chicago business owners are searching for ways to support and protect their staff. Solidarity signs have been a quieter approach to denouncing ICE.

📝 @zareensyed.bsky.social
Cafes, restaurants across Chicago put up signs barring immigration agents
For restaurant and cafe workers, many of whom are immigrants, the looming threat of unannounced visits by ICE has created anxiety and uncertainty about their future.
www.chicagotribune.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
October 8, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
HAPPENING NOW — This morning, Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order establishing “ICE-free zones.”

“That means that city property and unwilling private businesses will no longer serve as grounds for these raids,” Johnson said to applause.

thetriibe.com/2025/10/mayo...
Mayor Brandon Johnson signs executive order establishing ‘ICE-free zones’ • The TRiiBE
Johnson is calling for a full investigation into “all of the brutality” that federal agents have conducted this past week.
thetriibe.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
Forty Acres Fresh Market in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood is an expansion of Liz Abunaw’s community-focused effort to offer fresh produce via home deliveries and pop-up markets.
Forty Acres Fresh Market, Chicago’s only Black-owned grocery store, is a new option for fresh food in Austin
Forty Acres Fresh Market in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood is an expansion of Liz Abunaw’s community-focused effort to offer fresh produce via home deliveries and pop-up markets.
trib.al
October 6, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Liz Abunaw, owner of Forty Acres, said her store is a business-driven approach, not an idealistic project to “solve hunger” in Austin. But it's addressing a gap in the market, intensified by the differences between Chicago neighborhoods and how those differences break down along racial lines.
Forty Acres Fresh Market, Chicago’s only Black-owned grocery store, is a new option for fresh food in Austin
Forty Acres Fresh Market in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood is an expansion of Liz Abunaw’s community-focused effort to offer fresh produce via home deliveries and pop-up markets.
www.chicagotribune.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.

Community action works.

Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...
October 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
NEWS: Trump is federalizing 300 National Guard troops in Illinois, Gov. Pritzker announced.
October 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
30% decline in international student enrollment at DePaul. The financial impact of that is staggering.
Fewer foreign students, fewer dollars: U.S. colleges feel the pinch
DePaul University has told faculty it will immediately reduce spending following a 30% decline in international enrollment this fall. The move is the latest by U.S. colleges to cope with the disruptive education and immigration policies of President Donald Trump.
www.reuters.com
October 4, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
He's one of a handful of local doctors, w/ Jewish Voice for Peace, calling on lawmakers to block bomb sales to Israel and speak out against famine in Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank.

Read the story, but most importantly, press play👂
www.wbez.org/politics/202...
Chicago-area doctors are returning from Gaza with horror stories, and demands for elected officials
A group of doctors who worked in Gaza are urging members of Congress to sign onto a bill that would limit weapons sales to Israel. They say they can feel the tide turning.
www.wbez.org
August 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
Chicago doctor Thaer Ahmad will never forget one of the 1st times he declared a patient dead in Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, after a father carried in his three lifeless daughters.

Those girls weigh heavy on Ahmad's mind as he demands action from Illinois politicians.
www.wbez.org/politics/202...
Chicago-area doctors are returning from Gaza with horror stories, and demands for elected officials
A group of doctors who worked in Gaza are urging members of Congress to sign onto a bill that would limit weapons sales to Israel. They say they can feel the tide turning.
www.wbez.org
August 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
It's not all investigations, politics and crime news. A good daily newspaper captures the flavor of its city. @zareensyed.bsky.social did that masterfully with her coverage of the craziness at the Wiener Circle yesterday www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/23/w...
The Wieners Circle hands out free hot dogs — and insults — for Caleb Williams’ 4 TD passes
The Wieners Circle made good on the promise of free hot dogs Tuesday if Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams threw four TD passes vs. the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
www.chicagotribune.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
The Wieners Circle had promised free hot dogs if Bears QB Caleb Williams threw four TD passes Sunday vs. the Cowboys — which he did.

Now it was showtime behind the counter.

@zareensyed.bsky.social's story with photos by E. Jason Wambsgans.

trib.al/JERFTZg
The Wieners Circle hands out free hot dogs — and insults — for Caleb Williams’ 4 TD passes
The Wieners Circle made good on the promise of free hot dogs Tuesday if Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams threw four TD passes vs. the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
trib.al
September 24, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
Reposted by Zareen Syed
A pop up box on Tylenol dot com
September 23, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
ICE agents held a man’s five year old autistic daughter and taunted him with “Is that your daughter” in an attempt to get him to come out of the house.

They were rebuffed but two days later took him from his car.
ICE agents held 5-year-old girl outside Leominster home to get father to surrender, family says
Video appears to show federal immigration agents trying to coax the man out of his Massachusetts home while asking, “Is that your daughter?”
www.nbcboston.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
A culture at risk: Chicago’s street vendors quietly disappear from familiar corners during ICE surge

By @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social and @zareensyed.bsky.social

Gift 🔗
A culture at risk: Chicago’s street vendors quietly disappear from familiar corners during ICE surge
Their quiet disappearance marks not just a loss of income for them, it’s also the erosion of a cherished culture by many in the city.
www.chicagotribune.com
September 21, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Chicago's street vendors carry a cultural legacy that's slowly shrinking away from familiar city corners in the middle of the current ICE surge. "What they do is a dying art, born of love.” ✍️ An important story with @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social
A culture at risk: Chicago’s street vendors quietly disappear from familiar corners during ICE surge
Their quiet disappearance marks not just a loss of income for them, it’s also the erosion of a cherished culture by many in the city.
www.chicagotribune.com
September 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
A culture at risk: Some Chicago street vendors quietly disappear from familiar corners during ICE surge. On the ground reporting @chicagotribune.com @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social @zareensyed.bsky.social t.co/Ngn42kEAPt
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/21/chicago-street-vendors-disappear-ice-surge/
t.co
September 21, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Zareen Syed
Residents of a DuPage County town were worried about two escaped horses. Then they learned at least one of the animals was caring a highly contagious disease.
Hunt for two escaped horses in west suburbs threatened a town’s biggest industry
Residents of a DuPage County town were worried about two escaped horses. Then they learned at least one of the animals was caring a highly contagious disease.
www.chicagotribune.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM