(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) Federal immigration enforcement in the Chicago region entered a volatile new phase this month as Operation Midway Blitz drove daily arrests, dawn protests, and forceful responses outside detention sites.
Since early September 2025, federal agents have made roughly 550 arrests tied to the operation, which officials say targets undocumented immigrants with criminal records or finalized removal orders. The most intense clashes erupted on Friday, September 19, outside the ICE facility in Broadview, where agents used tear gas, chemical smoke, and pepper balls to clear protesters who tried to block government vehicles. At least three protesters were arrested during the confrontation, according to organizers who were on the ground.
Witnesses and organizers also reported snipers atop ICE headquarters and other federal buildings, describing tactical agents positioned on rooftops who fired pepper balls at crowds. That deployment marked a striking escalation and raised immediate questions from civil rights advocates and local elected leaders about the level of force used against demonstrators.
Among those at the protest was political candidate Kat Abughazaleh, who said federal agents pushed or threw people to the ground during the melee. Demonstrations began around 5 a.m. and stretched for hours as lines of police and federal officers met groups chanting, praying, and forming human chains along facility entrances.
Federal justification and regional scope
The Department of Homeland Security has defended the approach. A spokesperson said the operation is focused on the “worst of the worst” and that under current policy, “nowhere is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens.” Federal officials have also made clear that sanctuary cities like Chicago will see aggressive enforcement for the foreseeable future, with more actions planned in the coming weeks.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the timing and intensity of Operation Midway Blitz suggest a coordinated, 30-day surge tied to strategic priorities in the Midwest, including removal cases already in the pipeline.
- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker confirmed up to 300 ICE agents are operating in the region and using Naval Station Great Lakes as a base.
- Fencing has been installed around the federal courthouse downtown in anticipation of protests and additional detainee movement.
Citywide effects are already visible: organizers postponed the El Grito Chicago festival tied to Mexican Independence Day, citing safety concerns as federal operations expanded across key immigrant neighborhoods.
Ground operations, community response, and legal services
Agents tied to the surge have been moving between the federal courthouse, Naval Station Great Lakes, and field operations throughout the metro area, according to organizers who track vehicle activity and detentions.
- Mobile teams conduct pre-dawn pickups, then bring those arrested to the Broadview ICE facility for processing.
- Attorneys say cases tied to the operation appear to be on expedited tracks.
- Legal aid organizations have increased intake hours, set up emergency text lines, and dispatched volunteers to monitor protests.
- Faith leaders have organized prayer marches, especially near Great Lakes, calling the surge “fear mongering” and “terrorizing” to mixed-status families.
These faith-led actions often remain peaceful. But events outside ICE facilities have tipped into confrontation, particularly when protesters move to block entry or exit points. On September 19, Broadview became the flashpoint with multiple deployments of chemical smoke, tear gas, and pepper balls.
Organizers who oppose the operation argue that snipers atop ICE headquarters and other federal rooftops create a chilling effect on free speech and lawful assembly. Civil rights attorneys are asking for federal reviews of force used during crowd control and for clear, public guidelines on chemical agents at protests.
“We don’t want or need militarized immigration enforcement in our city.” — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, criticizing the federal deployment and urging restraint.
Impact on immigrants, families, and daily life
For undocumented immigrants in the Chicago region, the practical risk is immediate.
- Officials focus on people with prior criminal convictions or final orders of removal, but collateral arrests can happen when agents encounter others during targeted actions.
- Families report increased anxiety around routine tasks: taking children to school, going to clinics, or attending weekend services.
- Community groups urge people to:
- Keep copies of key documents at home
- Maintain contact numbers for relatives and attorneys
- Avoid opening the door to unfamiliar officers unless they present a judicial warrant with the person’s full name and address
Legal service providers and local nonprofits have stepped up outreach. Hotlines and walk-in clinics are busy with questions about what to expect if a family member is detained at Broadview under Operation Midway Blitz.
Attorneys recommend:
- Carry proof-of-presence documents if available.
- Memorize at least one trusted phone number.
- Track dates and times if an arrest happens to help locate a loved one.
For verified detainee information or urgent legal matters, the official ICE Chicago Field Office page lists contact channels.
Protest organization and preparedness
As protests continue, the line between peaceful assembly and enforcement remains tense. Organizers say they will keep pressure on the administration, planning more vigils at Great Lakes and outside the federal courthouse, where new fencing has reshaped public space.
- A coalition of nearly a dozen groups has pledged sustained action, including clergy who plan to link arms at future events.
- Some groups call for independent oversight and for Congress to review the use of snipers and chemical agents at domestic protests tied to immigration.
- Protest networks are growing more coordinated, sharing live updates at dawn when vans leave Great Lakes and again as detainees move through Broadview.
Organizers are training volunteers to:
- De-escalate confrontations
- Document interactions (video/photo)
- Assist anyone hurt by gas or pepper balls
Medical teams at protests distribute saline and masks, while legal observers compile reports to send to civil rights partners.
Political ramifications and broader concerns
President Trump has floated sending National Guard troops to Chicago in response to unrest and crime, but Governor Pritzker has declined to request federal troops. That split underscores a familiar clash between local and federal strategies, now intensified by rooftop tactical teams, pepper balls, and daybreak raids under the banner of Operation Midway Blitz.
The federal government argues the surge is needed to enforce the law and protect public safety in a city that has declared itself a sanctuary. Officials insist that the operation focuses on specific targets and note that those with final orders have already had their cases heard.
However, immigration policy experts warn that a heavily militarized approach may push undocumented people further into the shadows, cutting them off from schools, health care, and legal help. When trust erodes:
- Crime reporting falls
- Public health outcomes worsen
- The broader community is hurt
On the political front, the optics are stark: tactical agents on rooftops, lines of protesters in masks, and pepper balls bursting on pavement outside a suburban detention site. For supporters of tougher enforcement, the message is one of resolve and consequences. For opponents, it’s a snapshot of federal power overshadowing local governance and civil liberties.
Chicago, a long-standing battleground over federal-local roles in immigration, now faces its most intense period of confrontation since the early 2020s.
Near-term outlook and community adaptation
The next two weeks will be pivotal. Operation Midway Blitz is planned to run for at least 30 days, and more actions appear likely as agents cycle through known targets.
- Protest networks are sharing live updates and mobilizing at dawn.
- Organizers say they’re training volunteers on documentation and de-escalation.
- Medical and legal support teams are staging near key sites.
Families are also adapting:
- Mixed-status households set daily check-in times and keep ID copies in a safe place.
- Many are reassessing participation in public celebrations; events like El Grito Chicago have been canceled or postponed.
- The disruption is both logistical and emotional—a steady anxiety as new arrests appear in group chats and church bulletins.
Local leaders are pressing for restraint and clarity about rules of engagement, especially near schools, churches, and clinics. If unrest grows, further policy announcements from Washington could follow.
For now, Chicago faces an uneasy map of barricades, fenced courthouses, early-morning raids, and gatherings that begin in quiet prayer and sometimes end in gas and chaos.
Key takeaway: Operation Midway Blitz sits at the center of a renewed clash over who sets the terms of immigration enforcement—federal or local. The operation’s tactics, including rooftop deployments and crowd-control chemicals, will test not only whether the stated goals are met, but whether community trust and civic life can withstand prolonged, militarized enforcement in a major American city.
This Article in a Nutshell
Since early September 2025, Operation Midway Blitz has driven a coordinated, roughly 30-day federal enforcement surge in the Chicago area, producing about 550 arrests. Authorities say the operation focuses on undocumented immigrants with criminal records or final removal orders and has deployed up to 300 ICE agents using Naval Station Great Lakes as a base. Protests, pre-dawn raids, and heightened crowd-control measures—tear gas, chemical smoke and pepper balls—culminated on September 19 at Broadview, where at least three protesters were arrested. Reports of tactical teams on rooftops and snipers have raised civil-rights concerns. Local leaders, legal aid groups and faith organizations have increased outreach, while attorneys note expedited case processing. The operation has disrupted community life, postponed cultural events, and prompted calls for transparency, investigation of force, and clearer rules of engagement.
