Lightfoot sought to move Customs and Border Protection convention out of Chicago

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and immigrant rights groups have sought to get Marriott hotels to cancel or move a trade conference hosted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection out of Chicago - but the convention will likely start on Tuesday as planned.

The agency is set to hold its annual trade symposium at the Marriott Marquis Chicago in the South Loop on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A CBP spokesperson said the conference will "bring together the international trade industry and government to ensure we are meeting the needs of trade while being able to effectively enforce trade laws and regulations. ... CBP and other government agencies with impact on international trade, such as the Department of Commerce, are available for trade partners to discuss new trends and concerns in the industry."

Among other panels, the symposium will feature "agency personnel, members of the trade community and other government agencies" in panel discussions about "trade remedies, e-commerce," and "the status of affairs in the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras)."

The spokesperson did not say how many people would attend or how much the event cost to hold.

Lightfoot said late Monday afternoon she tried to get the conference moved out of the city, but was unsuccessful.

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