The Department of Homeland Security has begun a new enforcement campaign in Chicago under the Trump administration, marking the start of “Operation Midway Blitz.” The initiative, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has already resulted in arrests in several neighborhoods, sparking alarm among immigrant communities and sharp criticism from local leaders.

Federal Authorities Confirm Operation in Chicago

DHS announced on Monday that immigration enforcement operations had formally started in the city. Officials described the move as part of a broader federal strategy to target so-called “sanctuary cities,” where local policies limit cooperation with federal immigration agencies.

ICE has not disclosed how many officers are involved, the expected duration of the effort, or the geographic scope of the mission. However, the agency said the operation is dedicated to the memory of Katherine Abraham, a 20-year-old Illinois woman killed in January in a car crash allegedly caused by an undocumented immigrant. DHS officials highlighted the case as an example of what they called the dangers of lax immigration enforcement.

Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokeswoman, said in a statement that the federal government intends to act aggressively. “If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return,” she said.

Arrests Begin in Chicago Neighborhoods

Community organizations reported that arrests began on Sunday, a day before the official announcement. According to immigrant rights advocates, at least five people were detained, including a longtime flower vendor and several men stopped while waiting for buses or walking on sidewalks.

Activists described the enforcement style as different from past ICE operations. In earlier years, federal officers generally relied on targeted warrants for specific individuals. In this campaign, however, residents say people are being stopped in public spaces in what appears to be random sweeps.

Rey Wences, senior director of deportation defense for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said the tactics reflect a broader escalation. “We believe this operation signals the beginning of ICE’s full escalation in Chicago and Illinois,” Wences said.


Political Tensions Over Federal Enforcement

President Trump and his administration have long criticized Chicago and Illinois for adopting sanctuary policies that limit local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Trump has argued that such policies shield undocumented immigrants who commit crimes, while local officials say the measures protect community trust and ensure victims and witnesses are not afraid to work with police.

Illinois statutes prohibit local police from asking about immigration status during an arrest. The law also restricts the transfer of individuals in custody to federal immigration authorities unless ordered by a court. Chicago has adopted similar policies, making it one of the country’s most prominent sanctuary jurisdictions.

Senator Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, condemned the operation. “As President Trump continues to wrongly fixate on deploying the military to Chicago, his administration is now ramping up its campaign to arrest hardworking immigrants with no criminal convictions,” he said.

Impact on Local Communities

Residents in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods such as Humboldt Park, Hermosa, Montclare, and Archer Heights described a sense of fear and disruption since the operation began. Alderman Gilbert Villegas said his constituents worry about being stopped while walking to work or school. “People are concerned about, if they’re walking somewhere, they’re gonna be asked for their papers,” Villegas said.

Community groups have mobilized to provide support for families. Volunteers have increased patrols during school drop-off times to help ensure children reach classrooms if parents are too afraid to leave home. Neighborhood organizations are also connecting detained individuals with legal aid.

Karina Martinez, a spokesperson for the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, said the local response has been swift. “Neighbors came out, and people honked their horns to let others know that ICE is out,” she said. “In the middle of the chaos, it’s powerful to see the community making its own defense mechanisms.”

Critics Question Strategy and Effectiveness

Critics of the operation argue that mass detentions do little to improve public safety. Researchers have consistently found that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than U.S.-born citizens.

The Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research group, cites studies showing that immigrants are 60 percent less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans. Data from the Texas Department of Public Safety published in 2020 found felony arrest rates for undocumented immigrants were considerably lower than those of both legal immigrants and U.S. citizens.

In Chicago specifically, long-term studies such as Robert J. Sampson’s Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods have shown that first-generation immigrant communities often experience less violent crime than comparable neighborhoods with fewer immigrants.

Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya said the federal operation lacks strategic direction. “The result is not safer streets, but communities fearful of everyday activities such as going to work or to school,” she said.

DHS Points to Victim’s Case as Justification

DHS officials named the enforcement campaign after Katherine Abraham, who was killed earlier this year in a drunk driving incident involving an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. Her father, Joe Abraham, said he was informed of the operation over the weekend.

He told reporters that he supports efforts to prevent similar tragedies. “If it’s an operation where they’re looking to get after undocumented criminals, I’m not sure there’s any controversy around that,” he said. “If another parent doesn’t have to go through what I’m going through, I’m all for it.”

However, critics argue that using a single tragedy to justify broad enforcement undermines nuanced policymaking and unfairly stigmatizes entire communities.

Broader National Context

The Chicago operation is part of a wider series of ICE crackdowns under Trump’s second term. Over the weekend, DHS launched “Operation Patriot 2.0” in Boston, following similar initiatives in Los Angeles and Washington earlier this year.

The administration has made immigration enforcement a central theme of its domestic agenda, citing national security and public safety concerns. Polls show, however, that public support for large-scale deportations has declined compared to Trump’s first term, particularly among independent voters.

Democrats have struggled to present a unified immigration policy alternative. While many call for comprehensive reform and pathways to citizenship for certain undocumented groups, legislative progress has stalled for years.

Community Resistance and Monitoring

In Chicago, activists have organized hotlines for families to report sightings of ICE vehicles. Since Sunday, the volume of calls has spiked, though many have turned out to be false alarms as awareness of the operation spreads.

Groups like Pilsen Defense & Access have increased their presence on streets during peak hours. They are working to document encounters, provide legal resources, and escort children to school when parents feel unsafe.

Local activists also reported the presence of far-right media personalities accompanying federal officers. Videos posted online showed conservative commentator Ben Bergquam confronting residents who questioned ICE activity. Bergquam accused local residents of protecting criminals, describing the situation as “sickening” in a post on X.

Fear and Uncertainty in Daily Life

For many Chicago residents, the most immediate effect of the operation is fear. Ordinary routines, such as shopping, commuting, or sending children to school, are now clouded by anxiety.

“I don’t feel safe leaving my house,” said one Archer Heights resident who asked not to be named. “You don’t know if you’ll be stopped or if you’ll come home.”

Community leaders stress that the fear itself has consequences, even if the number of arrests remains small. People may avoid seeking medical care, reporting crimes, or attending school out of fear of encountering federal officers.

Ongoing Debate Over Sanctuary Policies

The clash between federal immigration enforcement and local sanctuary laws is not new. Chicago has resisted federal pressure for years, arguing that cooperation with ICE undermines trust between immigrant communities and local police.

Federal officials counter that sanctuary policies obstruct efforts to remove individuals who commit crimes. ICE data, however, shows that the majority of those detained nationwide have no criminal record beyond immigration violations.

Looking Ahead

It remains unclear how long Operation Midway Blitz will continue or how many people will ultimately be detained. DHS has provided little transparency on the scope of the campaign, fueling speculation and concern in immigrant neighborhoods.

For now, Chicago residents face uncertainty. Local officials continue to push back against the operation, while community advocates expand efforts to protect families. The federal government insists it will continue until its goals are met.

As debates over immigration policy intensify, Chicago has become a central battleground between the Trump administration and local leaders determined to defend their sanctuary laws.