Mexican Immigrants in Chicago Plan to Leave Before ICE Deportations

Mexican families in the city’s Southwest Side say they’re packing bags, selling cars, and drawing up plans to leave before dawn. Since early September 2025, federal ICE raids tied to Operation Midway Blitz have swept through neighborhoods near Midway Airport and beyond, bringing daily arrests and a sharp rise in fear. While the Department of Homeland Security says agents are focused on “criminal illegal aliens,” community groups and attorneys report that non-criminals—and even some U.S. citizens—have been detained during the chaos, with at least one fatal shooting of a Mexican immigrant by ICE agents under investigation.

The stepped-up enforcement comes as the Trump administration claims that about 2 million undocumented people have left the United States 🇺🇸 since President Trump returned to office. Officials say this includes roughly 400,000 formal deportations and an estimated 1.6 million people who chose to leave on their own. They describe this as a wave of self-deportation, driven by fear of detention, family separation, and the expanding reach of ICE teams. In Chicago, those forces are visible in shuttered storefronts, empty school desks, and neighbors who disappear with little notice.

Intensified enforcement and rising departures

Chicago attorneys describe Operation Midway Blitz as a rolling, multi-week push that brings more agents and more street-level pressure each day. Multiple community organizations say the number of home and workplace visits has surged since Labor Day. Parents now trade tips about new “safe pickup” plans for school in case a caregiver is detained. Workers compare routes to jobs that avoid known checkpoints. Immigration hotlines buzz late into the night as families try to verify rumors and locate loved ones after raids.

DHS officials say the operation targets those with criminal convictions or final removal orders. But immigrant advocates cite cases of non-criminals swept up during collateral arrests when agents encounter others in a home or workplace. Lawyers say some U.S. citizens have been detained and released after hours of questioning when they could not produce documents immediately.

The city has logged protests and demands for transparency after the reported fatal shooting by agents, which is the subject of a criminal investigation.

The climate of uncertainty has pushed more people to weigh exit plans. Some are leaving Chicago for relatives in other states, hoping to ride out the enforcement wave. Others—especially mixed-status families—are choosing to leave the country entirely to avoid the risk of a sudden split. Landlords report new vacancies. Small businesses serving Mexican communities say sales have dropped sharply as customers stay home or move away.

City response, federal posture, and community action

City Hall says municipal services remain open to everyone regardless of status. Mayor Brandon Johnson has reaffirmed Chicago’s Sanctuary City rules and signed orders that tell city agencies not to assist federal enforcement. Officials also say local police won’t cooperate with ICE or share local data to aid arrests, and the mayor has urged federal officers not to wear masks during operations.

Advocates welcome those steps but warn that federal authority supersedes local policy when agents operate under federal law. Reports indicate additional ICE resources are being staged for the region, with Naval Station Great Lakes prepared for logistics and incoming personnel. Federal officials have not ruled out the National Guard if needed for support roles, keeping tensions high ahead of large public events, including Mexican Independence Day celebrations.

Community groups are trying to steady nerves without downplaying risk. Volunteers move door to door with hotline numbers, attorney contacts, and short videos on asserting rights. Parents learn how to prepare temporary guardianship papers so a trusted adult can pick up children if a parent is detained. Faith leaders open sanctuaries for families who feel unsafe at home.

Important: City orders aim to limit local cooperation with federal enforcement, but federal agents operate under federal law and can carry out warrants without local approval.

Practical guidance and precautions

Practical guidance has become part of daily life. Community organizers and attorneys advise:

• Keep a folder of key documents in a safe, reachable spot.
• Save attorney and family contacts on paper and on your phone.
• Do not open the door unless agents show a warrant signed by a judge; ask them to slip it under the door or hold it to a window.
• If stopped, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with a lawyer.
• Do not sign forms you don’t understand; ask for legal help first.
• Verify any enforcement notices through trusted sources, not social media rumors.

For official information on rights during encounters with federal officers, residents can review DHS materials at the ICE “Know Your Rights” page: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Know Your Rights.

Legal, economic, and social repercussions

Lawyers warn that the choice to depart can carry long-term immigration consequences, especially if someone already has a removal order. People considering self-deportation should consult a licensed attorney to understand reentry bars and future options.

• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, families often underestimate how a rushed exit can complicate later visa or waiver applications, even when U.S. citizen children are involved.
• Employers with mixed-status workforces report staff shortages after recent ICE raids, pressuring restaurants, construction crews, and cleaning companies.
• Some business responses include staggering schedules, limiting cash on hand, and closing earlier to reduce risk during late-night operations.
• Union organizers report calls about wage theft tied to sudden departures, as workers fear they will never recover last paychecks if they leave quickly.

In courtrooms, public defenders and private counsel prioritize people with final orders and those picked up during collateral arrests. Legal aid groups are training volunteers to help families gather identity documents, proof of time in the U.S., and any evidence that might support relief—such as ties to U.S. citizen children or risks of harm if returned.

Advocates urge anyone with an open immigration case to:

1. Keep all receipts and notices.
2. Attend all hearings—missing court can trigger in-absentia removal orders.
3. Consult an attorney before making any decision to depart.

Human stories and community impact

The human cost is visible in quiet goodbyes. A Brighton Park mother packed her children’s birth certificates with photos and a list of emergency contacts in both English and Spanish. A Little Village grocer said he’s clearing stock because his customer base “vanished in two weeks.” School counselors report more students showing anxiety, sleeplessness, and sudden absences after a parent is detained or decides to leave.

On the policy front, Chicago officials insist local protections remain in place. Still, families understand that federal agents do not need local permission to carry out warrants. As enforcement expands and news of the possible National Guard role circulates, the pressure to leave grows. Lawyers stress that each case is different and that a hasty move could close doors that might otherwise remain open with the right legal strategy.

Where things stand now

For now, the city stands in a holding pattern: intensified Operation Midway Blitz activity, a surge of self-deportation, and a community trying to hold together under stress. Whether the pace of exits slows will depend on federal choices, court rulings, and how long families believe they can wait without risking separation.

In many Chicago blocks, that decision is being made night by night, as porch lights dim and minivans roll out before first light.