Ismael Cordová-Clough slipped out before dawn most mornings, while the rest of the block slept. By 4 a.m., he was circling the same streets he grew up on, scanning corners, alleyways and factory lots for unmarked cars.

He goes by “Ish” on Facebook, where he has become a trusted but polarizing voice in Elgin’s immigrant community, documenting sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and posting real-time updates. His videos often show tense, chaotic moments: neighbors being detained, agents refusing to answer questions, bystanders shouting in fear or solidarity.

Cordová-Clough, 28, recently left Elgin, but he said his feed remains a crucial part of the local resistance — especially since the Trump administration ramped up enforcement five weeks ago. Public demonstrations and

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