Pritzker Expects ICE Operations to Continue in Chicago Area

(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) Federal immigration activity in the Chicago area has intensified under the Trump administration’s new surge effort, “Operation Midway Blitz,” prompting sharp pushback from Gov. JB Pritzker and city leaders who say they received no advance notice and see mounting harm to immigrant families.

Launched several weeks ago by the Department of Homeland Security, the initiative dramatically expands ICE operations across the region. Federal officials say they are targeting “criminal illegal aliens,” while state and local officials report many arrests of people with no criminal convictions.

Governor Pritzker, in a post on X, criticized the federal rollout and the lack of coordination with Illinois agencies: “Once again, this isn’t about fighting crime. That requires support and coordination — yet we’ve experienced nothing like that over the past several weeks.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also said his administration was not briefed ahead of the escalated enforcement. DHS has not said how long the operation will continue.

Federal officials say Operation Midway Blitz was named in honor of Katie Abraham, a Chicago woman killed in a hit-and-run involving an undocumented immigrant, and argue the surge is necessary to protect public safety. State and local officials counter that the sweep casts too wide a net. Advocates cite internal tracking and hotline data showing that an estimated 70% of people currently detained by ICE in Chicago have never been convicted of a crime, clashing with DHS messaging about a focus on offenders.

Escalation on the ground

The stepped-up activity has come with mounting safety risks and violent encounters.

• On September 12, 2025, during an enforcement action in Franklin Park, an ICE officer was seriously injured and the targeted individual, Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, died. DHS describes Villegas-Gonzalez as having a history of reckless driving.
• DHS reports a 1000% increase in assaults against ICE officers during enforcement actions this year, underscoring the volatile nature of the operations.

Community groups say the surge has sparked fear in homes, schools, and workplaces. Hotlines run by immigrant rights organizations report sharp spikes in calls since Operation Midway Blitz began, with families asking:

• How to respond if agents come to their doors
• What to do if a loved one is detained

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the scale and pace of these arrests mark one of the largest federal crackdowns in Chicago since early Trump-era actions, creating new stress for mixed-status households and for long-settled residents with no criminal history.

State, local, and federal conflict

Illinois and Chicago have sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement — a long-running flashpoint with Washington.

• The Trump administration has often blamed sanctuary limits for public safety problems.
• Illinois leaders argue those policies build trust so residents can report crime without fear.

Gov. Pritzker says the current approach undermines that trust: as officers spread out across neighborhoods and workplaces, residents grow less likely to seek help from local police, even for serious crimes.

Federal officials maintain the focus is narrow and justified, citing the Abraham case and the Franklin Park incident as examples of why the surge is needed. Community advocates and civil rights attorneys counter with reports of:

• Arrests of people with no convictions, including long-term residents with U.S. citizen children
• Due process concerns, such as detentions without clear notice of rights or timely access to counsel

Those accounts have fueled protests, sit-ins, and rapid-response presence outside ICE offices and at community events.

The Supreme Court’s recent move to overturn a lower court order that blocked federal agents from questioning people about immigration status based on race, ethnicity, or language has further alarmed advocates.

With that order lifted while litigation continues, attorneys say the door has opened to racial profiling during stops and sweeps — a fear especially strong in Latino and other immigrant-heavy neighborhoods on Chicago’s Southwest and Northwest Sides.

In the U.S. system, immigration enforcement is federal, but its real-world effects fall on local communities. That clash is on full display:

• DHS points to public safety and officer risk.
• Gov. Pritzker, Mayor Johnson, and neighborhood leaders point to shaken families, missed doctor visits, and children kept home from school.
• Employers with immigrant workforces report confusion about how to advise staff, especially when rumors move faster than official notices.

Community response and rights education

As the operation continues, community groups have stepped in with practical tools and rapid-response systems.

Key community actions:
– Sharing “Know Your Rights” information in English and Spanish.
– Advising simple rules for a knock at the door:
1. Don’t open unless agents present a warrant signed by a judge.
2. Ask officers to slide documents under the door.
3. Exercise the right to remain silent.
– Setting up rapid response teams at festivals and parades (including the Mexican Independence Day Parade) to provide on-the-spot legal referrals and document arrests and stops.
– Organizing neighborhood phone trees, text alerts, and whistle systems to warn of nearby activity.
– Operating legal aid stations to help families plan for emergencies, including child care and medical needs if a parent is detained.

Advocates emphasize these steps do not block federal work; they help residents use their rights under U.S. law. For attorneys, the core concern is access to counsel and the ability to appear in court.

• When people are picked up in broad operations, cases can move fast.
• If someone is eligible for bond or to raise a defense — such as fear of return or long-term ties to the community — lack of counsel makes it difficult to mount a defense.
• The absence of clear timelines for Operation Midway Blitz adds to the pressure on detained individuals and their families.

Transparency, metrics, and the path forward

DHS has not released arrest totals, the share of people with convictions, or metrics for success. Without those figures, Illinois officials say they cannot judge claims that the operation is aimed only at dangerous offenders.

• State officials also question how the surge will end; for now, the state is preparing for a drawn-out effort.
• Gov. Pritzker has urged federal leaders to coordinate, share data, and narrow the scope to people who truly pose a threat.

For residents seeking official statements, the ICE newsroom provides updates on enforcement actions and policy shifts. The agency’s press page can be found at the ICE Newsroom. Local organizations, including faith groups and legal nonprofits, continue to host workshops on rights and to support families separated by arrests.

Key takeaways and ongoing uncertainties

• The Supreme Court’s pending litigation on profiling could reshape the legal boundaries of these ICE operations.
• Community protests show no sign of slowing.
• DHS has not set an end date for Operation Midway Blitz.

For people on Chicago’s Southwest Side who woke up to unmarked SUVs idling at the corner, or for suburban families in Franklin Park and Cicero who now keep school pickup tight and quick, the impact is already here.

The central question remains: how long will Operation Midway Blitz last — and can federal and state leaders find common ground on public safety without sweeping up people who pose no threat?