UPDATE: Residents of the troubled apartment building at 7500 South Shore Drive in Chicago have formed a tenants union following a dramatic ICE raid nearly two months ago. This urgent development comes as residents face deteriorating living conditions and an uncertain future with a proposed move-out date of December 12, 2025.
On November 24, 2025, over 36 tenants gathered in the cold outside their building, which has been largely abandoned since the militarized raid on September 30. They announced the formation of the 7500 South Shore Tenants Union, aiming to advocate for better living conditions amidst ongoing turmoil. “The building has been shut down,” said Infiniti Gant, a housing organizer with Southside Together, during a news conference. Residents are mandated to vacate, yet many remain trapped in what Gant described as “not livable” conditions.
The raid, part of President Donald Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz, targeted alleged gang members but resulted in the arrest of numerous Venezuelan immigrants. Since then, the Department of Homeland Security has not provided evidence to support their allegations, and no public criminal charges have been filed against those arrested. Meanwhile, conditions in the building have worsened, with tenants reporting weeks without essential services like heat, power, and running water.
Tenant Mashawnda Price, a single mother, highlighted the dire situation, stating, “I’ve had to go weeks without power, gas… it’s a building that is falling apart from the inside out.” She described ongoing problems with a “mice infestation” and a lack of basic sanitation. Residents have echoed her frustrations, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate repairs and basic amenities.
In a court ruling earlier this month, a Cook County judge appointed a third-party receiver to manage the property after a prolonged legal battle. Despite this, tenants report that little has changed. “Nothing has really happened,” said Darren Hightower, who has lived in the building for two years. “We continue to wait for change with little hope.”
The newly formed tenants union has outlined specific demands, including the full restoration of heat, power, and working elevators, as well as $7,500 in relocation assistance per resident. They are calling for immediate action from both the property management and the Chicago Housing Authority to address their deteriorating living conditions.
With the city moving to enforce the proposed eviction date, residents are grappling with uncertainty about their future. Many have seen their homes stripped of belongings and security, left with little recourse amidst a backdrop of fear and instability.
“This has been a problem for over a year,” Hightower added, reflecting on the ongoing neglect that led to the current crisis. As the temperatures drop, residents are left without heat and safe living conditions, with the added stress of impending eviction looming overhead.
As the tenants unite, their message is clear: “We’ve got the power!” They chant, reclaiming their dignity and demanding change amid one of the city’s most pressing housing crises. The situation continues to unfold, and the eyes of Chicago are on the residents of 7500 South Shore Drive as they fight for their rights and safety.