Key Takeaways
• Operation Safeguard led to 100 ICE arrests in Chicago in one February 2025 week, intensifying community fear.
• USCIS processed citizenship applications faster, with approvals at a five-month average, the quickest since 2016.
• Illinois passed House Bill 3882, allowing all residents standard driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status.
Illinois, known for its rich history of welcoming immigrants, is now facing a heightened wave of anxiety and activity within its immigrant communities. Since the start of 2025, a sharp rise in U.S. citizenship applications has been noted across the state, especially in Chicago. This rush for citizenship comes at a time when federal immigration enforcement has become the most aggressive it has been in years. Both individual stories and larger numbers paint a picture of urgency, resilience, and hope, even as fears increase under policies linked to the Trump administration.
Enforcement Actions Hit Illinois Communities Hard
The recent change began soon after President Trump returned to office. In January 2025, Tom Homan, commonly known as Trump’s “border czar,” publicly identified Chicago as the main target for a new federal effort called “Operation Safeguard.” Under this operation, mass deportations were planned and quickly carried out. Local police reports show that, in just one week in February 2025, about 100 people were arrested in the city during large-scale raids. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, often dressed in body armor, became a common sight, and in some cases, raids were even shown live on television.
These events deeply affected daily life, especially in neighborhoods like Pilsen and Little Village, which have high Latino populations. Parents kept their children home from school, leading to a sudden drop in attendance rates. Small businesses in these areas saw fewer customers, with many workers afraid to even leave their homes for fear of being picked up by ICE during their workday. The fear has spread beyond undocumented immigrants to legal residents and even some international students after recent visa revocations at Illinois universities, further complicating the local atmosphere.
An Urgent Move Toward Citizenship
In response, many immigrants who already hold green cards have accelerated their plans to become full U.S. citizens. A clear sign of this came in April, when a citizenship application event on Chicago’s Southwest Side drew 108 green card holders eager to begin the process. Local groups supporting immigrants observed a clear trend: more green card holders are asking for help with citizenship since President Trump took office and Operation Safeguard began.
This push in Illinois joins a broader national trend. According to recent data, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) welcomed 818,500 new citizens across the United States 🇺🇸 during the 2024 fiscal year. Importantly, the time it takes to process citizenship requests, known as Form N-400, is now the fastest it has been since 2016. Faster approval times mean less waiting and less uncertainty for applicants during this stressful period.
Why Applicants Are Rushing for U.S. Citizenship
Several reasons are driving green card holders in Illinois to seek citizenship now, with protection from deportation at the top of the list. Under current laws, U.S. citizens cannot be deported, no matter how much federal enforcement priorities change. This gives people peace of mind during times of sweeping crackdowns like Operation Safeguard.
Besides protection from deportation, citizenship brings other big benefits, such as:
- Voting Rights: Only citizens can vote in national and most local elections. With more political changes ahead, many immigrants want to make sure they have a say in who leads the country and what policies are put in place.
- Easier Family Reunification: U.S. citizens can usually bring close relatives to the United States 🇺🇸 more quickly than green card holders can. This is especially important now, as many families are split between countries and worry about new obstacles to bringing loved ones together.
- Better Access to Jobs and Aid: Some government jobs, student financial aid, and social benefit programs are only open to citizens. As communities in Illinois face economic uncertainty due to enforcement actions and fewer job opportunities, these benefits become even more important.
How Operation Safeguard Created New Fears
The approach used by federal agencies under Operation Safeguard feels different from past enforcement waves. ICE agents now conduct more visible, frequent raids. Community reports show stepped-up ID checks in public spaces and at workplaces.
Parents in affected neighborhoods like Pilsen have noticed that their children’s classmates are missing more days of school. Some young people no longer attend after-school activities or visit public libraries due to family fears of possible ICE sweeps. Meanwhile, local businesses have seen their revenues fall, with fewer shoppers and more workers calling in sick or simply not showing up. These disruptions have hurt whole communities—regardless of legal status—by causing financial loss and breaking down trust in local institutions.
According to VisaVerge.com, the heavy presence of law enforcement in immigrant-heavy areas, plus the possibility of live-broadcast raids, has deepened the sense of urgency among those seeking U.S. citizenship as their shield against uncertainty.
State and Local Leaders Push Back and Support Immigrants
Illinois leaders have taken a stand against the current federal approach to immigration enforcement. Governor JB Pritzker has spoken out against the “chilling effect” of these raids. He promises that Illinois will do what it can to protect residents from local fallout. Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson has called on the city’s residents not to live in fear, directly addressing the climate of anxiety. “They want us to be afraid. Do not be afraid, Chicago,” Mayor Johnson said in a recent speech.
Illinois has also passed new laws to help immigrants. A key example is House Bill 3882, which lets residents apply for standard driver’s licenses regardless of their immigration status. In the past, undocumented immigrants had to use a different kind of license—the Temporary Visitor Driver’s License—which made them easy to identify as non-citizens or undocumented. This change aims to reduce the risk and stigma these drivers face, allowing them to move more freely in daily life.
Efforts like these are meant to create a safer and more welcoming space for all Illinois residents, regardless of where they were born.
Resources for Aspiring Citizens
Community groups and the city itself have stepped up their support as well. Chicago remains a founding member of “Cities for Citizenship,” a program that helps lawful permanent residents become citizens. Community centers, legal clinics, and local partners offer workshops and free or low-cost help with the citizenship process. This usually includes:
- Helping people fill out the Form N-400, also known as the Application for Naturalization
- Helping applicants gather needed documents and prepare for biometrics (fingerprinting) appointments
- Answering questions about the U.S. citizenship test, which covers basic questions about U.S. history and the legal system
- Guiding applicants if they run into problems or need extra paperwork
For those unsure about eligibility or needing detailed instructions, more information is available on the official USCIS Citizenship Resource Center. Many community organizations also partner with trained volunteers and legal experts to make sure forms are filled out correctly, so fewer applicants face delays or denials.
National Trends: Naturalization More Accessible, But Not for All
Analysts estimate that about 9 million immigrants in the United States 🇺🇸 are eligible for naturalization. Luckily, the naturalization process has become easier to navigate for many people. The average time for Form N-400 processing is now less than five months, which is the lowest it has been since 2016. For qualifying applicants—meaning those who meet certain income requirements—a new 50% discount on the application fee can make a big financial difference.
Still, there are hurdles for many people. Not everyone who is eligible can easily pay the remaining fees, take time off work for interviews, or gather the right documents. Language barriers, fear of legal troubles, or confusion about which laws apply also stop some from applying right away. Even with more efficient services, some families remain worried that policy changes could suddenly make the process tougher at any time, especially under ongoing enforcement measures like Operation Safeguard.
Visa Revocations Add to the Uncertainty
Another layer of worry comes from the revocation of student visas at Illinois universities. In recent months, international students at schools across the state have reported losing their right to stay due to abrupt visa changes. These actions appear tied to the federal government’s broader effort to overhaul immigration, affecting both temporary and permanent residents.
The result is a climate where more residents feel at risk—even those who followed all official channels for study or work in the United States 🇺🇸. This contributes to the larger rush for U.S. citizenship, as people seek any way to secure their futures in the face of new obstacles and shifting rules.
The Path Forward for Illinois Immigrants
Despite all these pressures, the spirit of Illinois’s immigrant communities remains strong. With support from local groups, leaders, and new state laws, more people are moving forward with citizenship applications. The push for U.S. citizenship is not only about legal protection, but also about claiming a place in the life and future of Illinois and the wider United States 🇺🇸.
If you hold a green card and meet the requirements, you can start your citizenship application by using Form N-400. You can find this form and detailed instructions on the official USCIS Application for Naturalization page. Community centers and legal clinics throughout Illinois are available to help, and many offer free or discounted services to make the process easier.
Conclusion: Illinois at the Center of a National Story
The story unfolding in Illinois mirrors national trends but has a character all its own. As Operation Safeguard shapes daily life in Chicago and beyond, the race for U.S. citizenship has become both a practical move and a powerful symbol. For many, citizenship is now the best defense against a period of rising uncertainty, offering protection from deportation, access to vital opportunities, and the right to help shape the nation’s future.
State and city leaders in Illinois have fought to protect their residents, showing that not all responses to immigration are the same. Local efforts to pass protective laws and create welcoming programs, along with national changes such as faster processing and new fee discounts, mean that now is a good time for eligible residents to take action.
Whether you are newly eligible or still waiting for the right moment, the current rush in Illinois is a reminder that the decision to apply for U.S. citizenship reaches far beyond paperwork—it is about hope, community, and a long-term sense of belonging. For complete details and the next steps, visit the USCIS Citizenship Resource Center or ask for help at a trusted local resource.
As events continue to unfold, keeping informed will help you and your loved ones make the best choices for the future. Illinois’s journey proves that even in difficult times, hope and determination can still open new doors.
Learn Today
Operation Safeguard → A federal crackdown on immigration enforcement in 2025, targeting cities like Chicago with mass deportations and visible ICE raids.
ICE → Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency responsible for enforcing U.S. immigration laws and carrying out deportations.
Form N-400 → The application form required for permanent residents to apply for U.S. naturalization, processed by USCIS.
USCIS → United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for lawful immigration, including citizenship processing.
Temporary Visitor Driver’s License → A special license previously issued to undocumented residents in Illinois, marking them as non-citizens or lacking legal status.
This Article in a Nutshell
Illinois faces a surge of citizenship applications amid aggressive federal enforcement called Operation Safeguard. Community life changed: families fear deportation, businesses lose customers, and schools see lower attendance. Many green card holders accelerate applications, seeking security, voting rights, and family reunification. Local leaders combat fear through supportive laws and public outreach.
— By VisaVerge.com
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