whizz co-founder says trump’s chicago crackdown is scaring delivery workers off the streets

A Disturbing Scene in Chicago Highlights Fears Among Delivery Workers

A compelling video surfaced recently depicting a food delivery worker on an e-bike being pursued across a Chicago bridge by a group of armed, masked federal agents. The agents can be heard shouting “Get him!” as the worker manages to evade capture.

This widely circulated clip has become a focal point for those critical of President Trump’s deportation policies, which have been implemented in numerous cities across the United States and have, regrettably, resulted in the detention of U.S. citizens. For Mike Peregudov, co-founder of the e-bike subscription service Whizz, the footage vividly illustrates the intense anxiety that delivery workers have been communicating to his team for several weeks within Chicago.

The Impact on Whizz’s Business

The possibility of being detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or other agencies contributing to increased deportation numbers is now demonstrably affecting Whizz’s operational metrics.

Peregudov explained in a LinkedIn post, where he shared the video, that the stagnation of Whizz’s fleet growth in Chicago over the past month is directly linked to the increased difficulty of completing food deliveries in the city.

Whizz is a relatively recent addition to the Chicago market, launching operations only a few months prior. However, Peregudov revealed in an interview with TechCrunch that the company experienced “rapid growth” during the summer months, expanding from zero bikes in March to approximately 300 by the end of July.

This expansion aligned with Whizz’s core mission: to provide delivery workers with access to safe, dependable, and affordable bicycles. Previously, many workers were forced to utilize unreliable vehicles, leading to bans in certain municipalities.

Escalating Tensions and Workforce Concerns

The situation shifted in August following President Trump’s threat to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, according to Peregudov. Not only did growth cease, but Whizz has also experienced an 8% decline in business. The combination of National Guard threats and frequent ICE raids has instilled fear within the food delivery workforce.

“They are afraid,” Peregudov stated, referring to workers who have returned bikes to Whizz’s Chicago location. Whizz operates as a rental service, providing e-bikes to individuals with valid identification, a social security number, and a credit card; it does not directly employ gig economy workers.

Given that both documented and undocumented immigrants are being affected by similar raids nationwide, Peregudov believes this fear is widespread.

“During a raid, individuals can be detained for a period of, for example, two weeks,” he explained. “If it is determined they are legally present in the country, they will be released, but they will still lose those two weeks.”

Varied Impacts Across Different Cities

Immigration raids are occurring in most of Whizz’s other operating cities, including New York, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. However, these locations have, thus far, avoided the more overt military deployments seen in Chicago, which exacerbate the existing tension.

The company also operates in Washington, D.C., where President Trump has deployed National Guard troops. Interestingly, Peregudov noted that business is actually increasing in the nation’s capital.

He attributes this to the fact that law enforcement and federal agents appear to be focusing on delivery drivers operating gasoline mopeds without proper licensing. This is driving more workers towards Whizz and its comparatively less-regulated e-bikes.

As an immigrant himself, Peregudov refrained from extensive commentary on the administration’s policies and actions. “I immigrated here on a talent visa,” he said, “so my experience was less stressful than that of these workers. It was considerably easier for me.”