The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiated “Operation Midway Blitz” on September 8, 2025, flooding Chicago with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to target undocumented immigrants with criminal records. The operation, named in honor of Katie Abraham, a 20-year-old killed by an undocumented drunk driver in Illinois, aims to apprehend what DHS calls the “worst of the worst,” including gang members, drug traffickers, and violent offenders. On the first day, agents arrested three suspected gang members in Lawndale, supported by Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents investigating gun trafficking.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized Illinois’ sanctuary policies, accusing Governor JB Pritzker of shielding criminals and making Chicago a “magnet” for illegal activity. The operation, expected to last 30 days, follows a Supreme Court ruling allowing federal immigration enforcement in sanctuary cities. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who received no prior notice, condemned the raids, while Pritzker called them political stunts, sharing “Know Your Rights” guides to counter arrests.
Local leaders and immigrant advocates, including the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, organized protests that blocked downtown traffic, decrying the operation as fearmongering. Critics argue it targets hardworking immigrants, with only 0.0003% of votes linked to fraud in a 2020 study, undermining claims of widespread criminality. As agents operate from Naval Station Great Lakes, the city braces for heightened tensions, with community groups urging residents to film encounters.
The operation underscores the ongoing clash between federal authority and local sanctuary policies, with Chicago at the epicenter of a national immigration debate.
