Homeland Security agents arrested more than 800 illegal immigrants in Illinois during “Operation Midway Blitz,” with officials confirming that the large-scale raids will continue even as the federal government remains shut down.
According to DHS, those taken into custody included rapists, repeat drunk drivers, and individuals who had already been deported and reentered the United States illegally. In one part of the operation, roughly 300 federal agents swarmed an apartment complex believed to be harboring members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang.
“The Trump Administration will not allow violent criminals or repeat offenders to terrorize our neighborhoods or victimize our children and innocent Americans,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement announcing the arrests.
The crackdown in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs began in September, when President Donald Trump directed DHS to deploy additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol personnel to the area. The decision has drawn angry protests, with demonstrators attempting to physically block federal agents from carrying out arrests.
Tensions escalated over the weekend when rioters targeted an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois. Agents reported that protesters used tear gas against them, slashed government vehicles’ tires, and laid hands on officers in an attempt to disrupt the operation.
Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker blasted the federal enforcement surge, accusing agents of frightening local residents. “The Trump Administration’s DHS officers appear to be carrying large weapons around downtown Chicago in camouflage and masks. This is not making anybody safer — it’s a show of intimidation, instilling fear in our communities and hurting our businesses,” Pritzker wrote on X.
McLaughlin countered that the department will not back down. “We will not allow sanctuary politicians or violent rioters to stop us from enforcing the law and arresting pedophiles, murderers, gang members, rapists, and domestic abusers from American communities,” she said.