(CHICAGO) Federal immigration enforcement in Chicago and Portland entered a volatile new phase this fall, as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stepped up arrests, local officials fought back with new limits on cooperation, and courts blocked planned National Guard deployments ordered by President Trump. In Chicago, the operation has centered on September’s launch of Operation Midway Blitz, which ICE says targets undocumented people with criminal records in sanctuary areas. City leaders counter that the sweeps have swept up residents with legal status and caused broad fear in neighborhoods already under pressure.
In Portland, daily protests outside the ICE facility have drawn a heavy federal response and a legal freeze on additional troops, keeping tensions high across the Pacific Northwest.
What’s happening in Chicago
Officials say nearly 900 undocumented people have been arrested in the city since Operation Midway Blitz began. Raids have focused on predominantly Black and brown communities on the South and West Sides.
The most disputed incident came on October 1, when ICE agents raided a South Side apartment building. Witnesses reported that some officers rappelled from helicopters and broke down doors. Residents — including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents — described being zip-tied and held for hours before release.
Civil rights groups in Illinois called the action reckless and warned it will chill cooperation with police, even for crime victims and witnesses.
Local government response
- Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order creating city “ICE-free zones” and blocking local police from helping ICE without a judicial warrant.
- The order aims to limit contacts that could lead to detention in everyday interactions such as traffic stops or school visits.
- Supporters say ICE-free zones help people access basics — vaccines, food aid, legal help — without fear.
- Opponents argue the policy shields individuals with criminal convictions and interferes with federal law.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, such policies often aim to keep a firewall between city services and deportation actions while still honoring court orders.
State legal moves and the National Guard dispute
- Governor JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed lawsuits to stop President Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops into Chicago for immigration enforcement.
- They argue the deployment violates the 10th Amendment (state sovereignty) and the 14th Amendment (due process).
- A federal judge issued a temporary block on the Guard deployment; a hearing is set for October 22 to decide whether to extend the order.
- For now, the court action has kept additional troops out of the city while legal questions proceed.
City attorneys say the Guard is not trained for civil immigration work and that troop presence would blur lines between military force and civilian law enforcement, heightening risks to bystanders.
Reports of tactics and community impact
ICE defends Operation Midway Blitz as a public-safety measure aimed at people with criminal records and says special tactics are sometimes necessary given the dangers officers may face.
But advocates and residents point to troubling incidents:
– Reports of a fatal shooting during an enforcement action.
– A separate case where a woman was shot by federal officers.
– Community groups say the raids and shows of force have hardened opinion and fueled daily demonstrations outside city buildings.
The legal clash runs alongside concerns about how ICE operates in mixed-status households. After the October 1 raid, advocates report:
– Parents keeping children home from school.
– Families skipping doctor visits.
– Community groups fielding calls about safety plans (who can pick up children, documents to carry, where to store ID copies, how to reach a lawyer).
Legal aid nonprofits are holding teach-ins on rights during arrests — the right to remain silent, and the right to ask for an attorney.
ICE’s stated authority and local disagreement
At the federal level, DHS and ICE point to an enforcement mission that prioritizes arrests based on criminal records. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations unit outlines its authority and focus areas on its official page at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.
Local leaders in Chicago say those priorities conflict with what they see on the ground, where collateral arrests — detaining people who were not the original target — appear to have risen during Operation Midway Blitz.
What the pending October 22 hearing could mean
- If the judge extends the block on National Guard deployment, Chicago will likely continue relying on:
- ICE-free zones
- Ongoing legal challenges
- Community outreach and know-your-rights education
- If the block is lifted, state leaders say they will appeal and seek further court review.
Either outcome sets the stage for a longer legal and political fight over the balance between federal immigration authority and local control in a sanctuary city.
What’s happening in Portland
In Portland, the dynamic is different but equally charged. Protests outside the South Waterfront ICE facility have continued since June, drawing crowds opposed to ICE tactics and the plan to send National Guard troops.
Federal officers have used tear gas, pepper balls, and flashbangs to disperse crowds. Dozens of people have been arrested in confrontations near the building.
Local officials emphasize that the Portland Police Bureau does not carry out immigration enforcement and that the city does not want to escalate the situation.
Legal and political developments in Portland
- A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the planned Guard deployment; the administration is appealing.
- That legal freeze mirrors the Chicago ruling and shows courts weighing executive power against local and state objections.
- Portland leaders are exploring a takeover of the ICE facility lease, aiming to end ICE’s presence in the building rather than keep the agency as a tenant. This would be a direct challenge to federal use of local property.
Public statements have sharpened the conflict. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has accused Portland’s leadership of “covering up terrorism,” a charge city officials reject as unfounded and political. Portland leaders say federal tactics are out of scale, and community advocates warn about injuries from crowd-control weapons and heavy-handed arrests.
Shared themes across both cities
- Court orders temporarily blocking National Guard deployments in support of immigration enforcement.
- Local policies limiting cooperation with ICE, including Chicago’s ICE-free zones and Portland’s non-cooperation stance.
- Reports of increased force during operations and protests — use of tear gas and less-lethal munitions in Portland, contested shootings in Chicago.
- Public opposition, reflected in recent polls and sustained street protests, with stronger disapproval in urban centers.
“Cities and states can shape public safety and set local priorities, but immigration enforcement remains a federal power.”
The clash over priorities plays out as courts, local governments, and communities test the limits of cooperation and authority.
Immediate concerns for families and residents
Practical questions are urgent for people living in both cities:
– Are school drop-offs safe?
– Could a traffic stop lead to transfer to ICE custody?
– Should people with pending immigration cases still attend check-ins or court dates?
Lawyers recommend:
1. Keep copies of IDs and legal papers in a safe place.
2. Carry the phone number of a trusted attorney.
3. Avoid opening the door to officers who lack a signed judicial warrant.
4. Know and use the right to remain silent and the right to request an attorney.
Community centers are distributing know-your-rights cards in English and Spanish and holding teach-ins.
What’s next
- In Chicago, the October 22 hearing may determine whether additional National Guard troops stay blocked from deployment. The city will continue to use executive orders, litigation, and community measures in the interim.
- In Portland, city leaders must decide whether to press the lease takeover plan, which could spark further legal battles. Protest organizers say they will maintain daily demonstrations until ICE reduces activity at the facility.
- Federal officials in both cities argue that laws must be enforced and that officers face real threats around facilities and during arrests.
Across both cities, the situation reflects an ongoing national debate: local leaders are drawing tighter boundaries around city services and limiting cooperation with ICE, while federal authorities assert enforcement responsibilities. For now, courts have temporarily held the line on additional troops, and families and communities continue to plan day by day to stay safe while this legal and political fight unfolds.
This Article in a Nutshell
Federal immigration enforcement escalated this fall in Chicago and Portland. ICE’s Operation Midway Blitz led to roughly 900 arrests in Chicago, concentrated in South and West Side neighborhoods. An October 1 raid prompted reports of residents — including citizens and legal permanent residents — being restrained and held, raising civil rights concerns. State and city leaders pushed back: Chicago created “ICE-free zones” limiting local police cooperation without judicial warrants, and Illinois officials obtained a temporary court block on National Guard deployments, with a hearing set for October 22. In Portland, ongoing protests outside the South Waterfront ICE facility prompted heavy federal crowd-control tactics and a similar temporary restraining order on additional troops. Communities reported fear, disrupted daily routines, and increased legal aid efforts. The coming weeks hinge on court decisions that will shape the balance between federal immigration authority and local protections in sanctuary cities.
