ICE Says Chicago Suburbs Operations Are Smooth Amid Controversy

(CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said its stepped-up ICE operations in the Chicago suburbs are proceeding “smoothly,” even as arrests climb, protests grow, and state and local leaders press for answers after a fatal shooting. The surge, known as Operation Midway Blitz, began September 8, 2025, and has already produced nearly 550 arrests as of September 18, according to officials briefed on the operation. ICE says 50–60% of those arrests were “targeted” based on criminal records or prior deportation orders. Illinois officials dispute the approach and demand more transparency.

Escalation and arrest totals

More than 200 ICE officers were brought in from around the country to support the push in the Chicago area. For logistics, the agency is using Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago for office space and parking from September 5 through October 5. Approximately 300 federal agents have access to the base for staging, though officials say the Navy is not providing housing and is not allowing lethal munitions on the installation.

Processing is running through the Broadview ICE facility, which is reportedly operating daily for the duration of the action. ICE teams meet for early-morning briefings and coordinate by radio before fanning out across multiple Chicago suburbs to conduct arrests.

Officers say they focus on people with criminal convictions and those with prior removal orders. At the same time, individuals they encounter who lack status are also being detained. Agents have faced criticism for:

• wearing masks,
• not clearly identifying themselves, and
• working without body cameras—

practices that differ from Chicago Police Department policy.

Officials have not announced an end date. Senior leaders say Operation Midway Blitz will continue “as long as necessary,” with schedules running at least through early October and potential expansion depending on federal direction and local resistance. The operation unfolds as the federal government seeks stronger interior enforcement in sanctuary areas, with Illinois and Chicago limiting cooperation with immigration arrests.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the scale and visibility seen here may set a template for future federal actions in other jurisdictions with strong local limits.

Community response and use-of-force probes

Tensions spiked after the September 12 fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas González, a Mexican national, during an attempted arrest in a Chicago suburb. The Department of Homeland Security says Mr. Villegas González tried to flee by driving at officers and dragged one of them, prompting the agent to fire. The officer was not wearing a body camera.

• Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called for a “full, factual accounting.”
• Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the killing and requested a thorough investigation, signaling diplomatic weight between the United States 🇺🇸 and Mexico.

In a separate incident in Des Plaines, a U.S. citizen was detained and tased three times by ICE agents, according to local advocates and legal representatives. Community groups say these events have fueled fear across immigrant neighborhoods, with reports of people avoiding public spaces, school events, and medical appointments.

Chicago Alderman Andre Vasquez accused ICE of provoking confrontations and damaging trust that local police depend on to keep residents safe.

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations’ acting chief Marcos Charles defended the agency’s tactics. He said:

Force is used only when people do not comply and that arrests are focused on individuals with criminal history.

He added that teams conduct detailed pre-operational briefings, use radios for safety, and deploy in multiple vehicles to reduce risks. While ICE maintains the operation is “proceeding smoothly,” state and local leaders want records, camera footage where available, and a clear process for reviewing force.

What residents describe seeing is unusual for routine field work. The use of a military base for staging—without lethal munitions or housing—marks an escalation in visibility. Advocates fear it normalizes military-linked logistics for civil immigration enforcement and could spread to other areas with sanctuary laws.

Legal aid groups warn that high-profile ICE operations in the Chicago suburbs can have a long tail of harm:

• missed court dates,
• delayed medical care,
• avoidance of city services,
• increased isolation and risk for families.

What residents need to know now

• Increased ICE presence: Residents report early-morning movements, convoys of unmarked SUVs, and daylong activity near target addresses.
• Who is at risk: Agents are prioritizing “targeted arrests,” but people encountered during operations who lack legal status are also at risk of detention.
• Preparedness tips from advocates:
  • Prepare a safety plan and keep key phone numbers handy.
  • Know your rights—you can ask to see a warrant signed by a judge before opening a door.
  • If you have a pending immigration case, carry a copy of your notice and attorney contact.
• Official contacts: For official case information or to reach the Chicago Field Office, consult ICE’s contact directory at the agency’s site: ICE ERO Contact Page.
• Consular assistance and local resources: Mexican nationals can contact the Mexican Consulate in Chicago for assistance. Illinois residents can follow the Governor’s Office and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights for updates and legal clinics.

Legal, political, and long-term impacts

Policy experts say Illinois’ strong sanctuary policies limit local cooperation, but they do not stop federal ICE operations. That tension—federal authority versus local limits—frames the current standoff.

• Supporters of the surge argue it helps remove dangerous individuals and enforce removal orders that courts have already issued.
• Critics say the tactics sweep in people without criminal records, spread fear, and risk due process violations, especially with agents not wearing body cameras.

The scale of arrests—nearly 550 in the first ten days—puts Chicago among the largest current interior enforcement efforts nationwide. Using the Broadview processing center daily allows rapid intake, fingerprinting, and transfer decisions. Attorneys advise families to track where loved ones are being held and secure representation early if possible.

While ICE has said many arrests are targeted, the practical impact reaches wider, as neighborhood operations often lead to collateral arrests.

The political crosscurrents are intense. President Trump has pushed for broader deportations and stricter enforcement, often highlighting sanctuary cities as priorities. Illinois leaders, including Governor Pritzker, argue the federal push ignores community safety and civil rights concerns.

For families in the Chicago suburbs, the policy fight feels very local: early knocks on doors, unmarked vehicles on quiet streets, and the constant worry that a loved one will not come home.

Experts also warn of long-term effects. When people fear contact with any form of law enforcement:

• reporting crime drops,
• public health outreach suffers, and
• civic engagement shrinks.

That erosion is hard to repair. If investigations into force—especially the fatal shooting—lead to new rules, they could include:

• clearer identification by agents,
• greater data sharing with local officials, and
• possible body camera requirements for federal teams operating in dense urban neighborhoods.

For now, Operation Midway Blitz continues without a public end date. ICE officials stand by their methods and say their mission is lawful and targeted. State and local leaders keep pressing for answers. And in homes across the region, immigrant families weigh daily routines against a rising sense of risk as the operation moves through the Chicago suburbs.