ICE Conducts Immigration Raids in Chicago Amid Operation Midway Blitz

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have arrested at least 12 individuals in Chicago's Southwest and Northwest Sides as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a federal initiative targeting undocumented immigrants in Illinois. The operation, launched by the Department of Homeland Security, aims to intensify immigration enforcement in response to the state's sanctuary policies.

On Wednesday afternoon, federal agents detained at least five people near South Western Avenue, including at a Home Depot on West 47th Street, according to local organizers. Witnesses reported agents in green and black vests pursuing individuals in the area. One observer noted, "It's sad because people are there searching for work, and now they're not coming home."

Earlier in the week, additional arrests occurred, including a man taken into custody near West 24th Street and South Albany Avenue. His wife, who requested anonymity, stated that agents forcibly removed her husband from their vehicle during a traffic stop. The man, a Venezuelan asylum seeker and construction worker, has been in the U.S. for two years and has two young children.

The Trump administration announced Operation Midway Blitz as a response to Illinois' sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Governor JB Pritzker criticized the operation, alleging it was politically motivated to influence the 2026 midterm elections. He also stated that the administration had not formally communicated with his office regarding the operation. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also opposed the initiative. President Trump defended the operation on social media, citing crime in Chicago and aiming to portray it as a public safety effort. Homeland Security highlighted individuals allegedly released from Illinois jails despite felony convictions. The administration also confirmed a similar enforcement campaign underway in Boston. Despite Trump's previous mentions of potentially deploying National Guard troops in Democratic-led cities, this operation aligned more closely with standard immigration enforcement actions.

Local officials and immigrant advocacy groups have expressed concern over the operation's impact on communities. Cook County officials have denounced federal immigration agents' tactics, stating that masked agents have refused to identify themselves and, in some cases, refused to show a warrant. Organizers have urged residents to know their rights when interacting with ICE and to report sightings and arrests. Families in need of legal assistance for detained loved ones can contact the Resurrection Project through the group's online portal or call the ICIRR family support hotline at 1-855-435-7693.

The operation has also extended to Chicago's suburbs, with reports of ICE activity in Naperville, Wheaton, and St. Charles. In Elgin, a U.S. citizen was detained when masked and armed agents forcibly entered his home, calling another man's name in Spanish and breaking two doors. The individual was released after agents found his ID in his wallet. In West Chicago, federal agents made over a dozen arrests near a police station and a county courthouse. State Senator Karina Villa confronted agents and warned residents to stay indoors during the raids.

As Operation Midway Blitz continues, community organizations and local officials remain vigilant, advocating for the rights and safety of residents amid heightened immigration enforcement activities.