(FEDERAL & LOCAL) Federal officials on Monday launched a new immigration enforcement surge known as Operation Midway Blitz across the Chicago area, aiming to arrest undocumented immigrants with criminal records or outstanding warrants. The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the operation began on September 8, 2025, and will continue through the month, with “hundreds” of targets identified in the initial phase. The action, one of the most sweeping in Illinois in recent years, immediately drew strong reactions from local leaders and immigrant advocacy groups.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and ICE Acting Director Patrick Lechleitner framed the effort as a public safety push, saying the goal is “removing criminal illegal aliens who pose a threat to public safety.” Federal officials said Chicago’s sanctuary policies would not deter arrests tied to criminal histories or open warrants. City leaders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, pushed back, calling the strategy “counterproductive and harmful to community trust.”
Officials said Operation Midway Blitz is focused on the Chicago metropolitan region and nearby suburbs. The name was chosen in honor of Katie Abraham, a local resident whose death officials linked to a criminal undocumented immigrant, an event they cited as a catalyst for the enforcement surge. ICE has deployed extra personnel and mobile command centers, and is coordinating with other federal law enforcement units to carry out arrests, often in early morning operations at homes, workplaces, and public spaces.
The rollout signals a clear shift in federal enforcement priorities under President Biden. Earlier guidance emphasized the most serious criminal offenders; the current approach widens the net to include a broader range of criminal offenses and individuals with outstanding warrants. That change has renewed friction between federal authorities and Chicago officials, who say mass enforcement can break families apart, disrupt schools and workplaces, and deter cooperation with police in immigrant neighborhoods.
Advocacy groups warned of a broad chilling effect. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) said volunteers have mobilized rapid response teams and legal aid, with hotlines ready to assist. Groups across the city urged families to prepare emergency plans and to learn their basic rights, including the right to remain silent and to speak with a lawyer before signing any documents.
Scope, Timelines, and Official Posture
- Launch date: September 8, 2025
- Geographic focus: Chicago area, including surrounding suburbs
- Target population: Undocumented immigrants with prior criminal convictions or open warrants
- Duration: Operations expected to continue through September; officials may expand to other Illinois cities depending on results
- Federal stance: “Sanctuary policies cannot shield dangerous individuals from accountability,” Secretary Mayorkas said, emphasizing “public safety and the rule of law.”
Chicago’s government reiterated its sanctuary commitments and called for transparency from ICE. City officials warned that broad sweeps can erode trust built with immigrant communities, undermining public safety when witnesses and victims fear engaging with police. Community organizations echoed those concerns, saying the strategy risks trauma—especially for children whose parents could be detained or transferred.
How Arrests and Proceedings Unfold
Federal officials described a step-by-step process that starts with database checks and ends with immigration court proceedings. While many detainees will see a judge, expedited removal may apply in certain cases, a faster process that can limit court review. According to advocates, families should try to contact an attorney as quickly as possible and avoid signing paperwork they do not fully understand.
- Identification
- ICE uses federal databases and local law enforcement records to locate people with criminal histories or outstanding warrants.
- Apprehension
- Arrests may occur at homes, workplaces, and public spaces, often at dawn.
- Detention
- People arrested are processed at local ICE facilities and can be moved to federal detention centers.
- Legal process
- Detainees have the right to legal representation and a hearing before an immigration judge, though some may face expedited removal.
- Community support
- Legal aid groups and hotlines offer assistance, family planning, and emergency support.
Important: Families should contact an attorney immediately and avoid signing documents without legal counsel. Expedited removal can significantly reduce review opportunities.
Resources and Contact Information
- ICIRR hotline: (855) 435-7693 — taking calls from families seeking to confirm detentions.
- ICE Chicago Field Office: (312) 347-2400
- National Immigrant Justice Center legal intake: (312) 660-1370
The federal government directs the public to the Department of Homeland Security for official information, including agency contacts and policy announcements: Department of Homeland Security. Community lawyers recommend checking directly with service providers if you need help finding counsel or confirming a court date.
Political and Policy Fallout
Federal and local tensions are also playing out in Washington. Members of Congress have asked for briefings and are preparing hearings later in September to review the scope, results, and legality of Operation Midway Blitz. Lawmakers from both parties are expected to question how arrests are prioritized and whether safeguards are in place to prevent wrongful detention.
VisaVerge.com reports that the operation is part of a broader enforcement trend that began after a 2024 policy review, which increased resources for criminal removals. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, officials believe tightened focus on arrests tied to criminal histories will lower community risk, while advocates warn the broader criteria could pull in long-settled residents with old or low-level offenses.
Community Impact and Concerns
The human impact is already visible in neighborhoods on the city’s Southwest and Northwest sides. Parents are arranging back-up school pickups, employers are bracing for sudden absences, and clinics are preparing mental health support for families facing new stress.
Immigration attorneys said they expect a rise in bond hearings and emergency filings as cases move quickly through detention centers. Legal groups are exploring court challenges, focusing on due process questions and whether parts of the operation conflict with Chicago’s sanctuary ordinances. They argue the effort could deter crime reporting and cooperation with local police, which city leaders have worked to strengthen. Federal officials reject that claim, saying targeted enforcement of undocumented immigrants with criminal histories supports overall safety.
ICE says agents are guided by lists that prioritize people with specific criminal convictions or open warrants. Even so, community leaders worry that collateral arrests—people picked up during an operation who were not original targets—could increase as agents move across the Chicago area.
Practical Steps for Families
Advocates urge families to take practical steps now:
- Keep key phone numbers on hand (hotlines, legal contacts, local ICE office).
- Prepare copies of IDs, medical records, and school contact forms.
- Tell children who to call if a parent does not come home.
- Do not open the door unless officers show a valid warrant signed by a judge.
- Ask for an interpreter if needed.
- Know that you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney before signing documents.
Warning: Immediate preparations and legal contacts can materially affect outcomes. Rapid response teams and legal aid are already mobilized across the city.
Looking Ahead
The coming weeks will test the balance between federal enforcement goals and local trust-building. Whether Operation Midway Blitz narrows to high-priority targets or broadens further will shape community response—and may influence national debate as Congress reviews outcomes.
For now, the message from DHS is clear: arrests of undocumented immigrants with criminal histories are moving forward. The message from Chicago leaders is equally clear: mass arrests risk harm that could outlast the operation itself.
This Article in a Nutshell
Operation Midway Blitz began on September 8, 2025, as a DHS and ICE-led enforcement surge across the Chicago metropolitan area targeting undocumented immigrants with prior criminal convictions or outstanding warrants. Federal officials framed the initiative as a public-safety measure, deploying additional personnel, mobile command centers, and coordinated early-morning arrest operations. Chicago city leaders and immigrant advocates criticized the campaign for undermining community trust and risking family separations, while legal groups prepared rapid-response hotlines and counsel. The initiative reflects a post-2024 shift toward broader enforcement priorities and prompted congressional interest and potential hearings. Families are urged to contact attorneys immediately, avoid signing documents without counsel, and use community hotlines for assistance.
