Abolish ICE Snowplow Wins Chicago Vote as Johnson Backs Streets and San

(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) — The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation announced that Chicago residents picked “Abolish ICE” as the top winner in the city’s annual snowplow naming contest.

City officials said the headline-making name rose to the top as residents submitted suggestions and voted in the contest, which the department framed as a winter-season tradition that connects people to snow operations.

The winning entry drew attention because “Abolish ICE” reads as both a winter-weather reference and a slogan tied to immigration politics, a dual meaning local outlets highlighted as the results spread online and on television.

Chicago’s snowplow contest follows an annual format in which residents submit names, then vote on finalists, with each winning name assigned to a specific snowplow, the department said in its announcement. City leaders have promoted the program as a civic engagement effort that also puts a public-facing spotlight on winter preparedness.

Even without focusing on politics, the contest’s premise invites wordplay and local in-jokes, giving residents a low-stakes way to make city equipment feel familiar. The department tied the contest to everyday visibility, since named snowplows work city streets during storms.

Officials described this year’s turnout as record participation, with far more submissions than final votes, underscoring how a small slice of city operations can draw widespread attention. The dynamic reflects how naming contests can travel beyond snow operations, especially when a finalist name taps broader cultural or political themes.

Alongside the top winner “Abolish ICE,” the department listed five other winning names in order: “Stephen Coldbert,” “Pope Frío XIV,” “The Blizzard of Oz,” “Svencoolie,” and “Caleb Chilliams.” Local descriptions of the slate emphasized puns, pop-culture references and Chicago-specific nods, with “Abolish ICE” standing out for its double meaning.

CBS Chicago called “Abolish ICE” “a nod to both the weather and controversial immigration enforcement efforts in the city.” WTTW reported the results on February 23, 2026, at 10:45 a.m., and included “Caleb Chilliams” among the winners.

In immigration policy, ICE refers to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency that plays a central role in immigration enforcement. The phrase “Abolish ICE” has circulated for years as a slogan in national debates about how the United States enforces immigration laws.

That context helped explain why a snowplow name could read as more than a winter joke, even as the city’s contest centers on creativity rather than policy. The same two-word phrase can point at icy streets and at a charged political argument, depending on how readers interpret it.

The contest landed in a city where immigration issues have long been part of public debate, and where local political leaders can shape how civic gestures get read. Still, the city’s announcement focused on participation, humor and winter operations rather than any statement about federal enforcement.

Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the response from residents and emphasized the scale of involvement. “I want to thank the people of Chicago for their unmatched creativity, sense of humor, and civic pride. We are grateful and inspired by the record-breaking participation in the contest this year,” Johnson said.

The city said recognition goes to the first residents who submitted each winning name, and the prize includes a photo opportunity with the named snowplow and city swag. By putting the names directly onto working plows, the department has sought to turn a routine piece of winter infrastructure into something residents can spot, share and talk about when snow hits Chicago.