Is ICE chilling Chicago? Trump 'blitz' draws rage from immigrant groups Michael Loria, USA TODAYSeptember 9, 2025 at 7:04 AM 1 Is ICE chilling Chicago? Trump 'blitz' draws rage from immigrant groups CHICAGO – Donald Trump's "Operation Midway Blitz" is hitting a fever pitch as local leaders claim imm...
- - Is ICE chilling Chicago? Trump 'blitz' draws rage from immigrant groups
Michael Loria, USA TODAYSeptember 9, 2025 at 7:04 AM
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Is ICE chilling Chicago? Trump 'blitz' draws rage from immigrant groups
CHICAGO – Donald Trump's "Operation Midway Blitz" is hitting a fever pitch as local leaders claim immigrants are wrongfully being snatched off the street by federal agents looking to rout out violent criminals.
The White House vehemently argues that the Chicago operation is aimed at targeting undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes, but local community members say it's causing fear among law-abiding neighbors. At least four people have been arrested so far, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
"These abductions were seemingly random, with agents profiling and approaching community members on the street," said Rey Wences of the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights at a news conference. "What we're experiencing today is not normal. People going out in the street and being snatched from their family members is not normal."
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids began Sunday, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Trump has said that federal agents are targeting "the worst of the worst" criminals so far the four people arrested have been charged with crimes, an agency spokesperson said in an official statement.
Chicagoans says that local workers and business owners are being targeted instead of criminals.
"It's never been about arresting the worst of the worst," Alderwoman Jeylú Gutiérrez, the City Council representative for Chicago's 14th Ward, said at Monday's news conference. Gutiérrez is an immigrant from Mexico. "It's about terrorizing our communities. But we will not be intimidated."
despite vocal protests by state and local leaders and Chicago residents.People opposing ICE protest at the Naval Station Great Lakes on Sept. 6, 2025 in North Chicago, Illinois.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Chicagoans are bracing for a potential surge in federal immigration agents and National Guard troops that could begin as soon as this weekend – despite vocal protests by state and local leaders and Chicago residents.People opposing ICE protest at the Naval Station Great Lakes on Sept. 6, 2025 in North Chicago, Illinois.
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Chicagoans are bracing for a potential surge in federal immigration agents and National Guard troops that could begin as soon as this weekend – despite vocal protests by state and local leaders and Chicago residents.People opposing ICE protest at the Naval Station Great Lakes on Sept. 6, 2025 in North Chicago, Illinois.
">Chicagoans are bracing for a potential surge in federal immigration agents and National Guard troops that could begin as soon as this weekend – despite vocal protests by state and local leaders and Chicago residents.People opposing ICE protest at the Naval Station Great Lakes on Sept. 6, 2025 in North Chicago, Illinois.
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1 / 12Chicago leaders, residents brace for Trump troops deployment. See the scenes.
Chicagoans are bracing for a potential surge in federal immigration agents and National Guard troops that could begin as soon as this weekend – despite vocal protests by state and local leaders and Chicago residents.People opposing ICE protest at the Naval Station Great Lakes on Sept. 6, 2025 in North Chicago, Illinois.
The launch of immigration raids in Chicago also comes as the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration in ruling that federal officials can resume for now the indiscriminate immigration-related stops in Los Angeles that sparked protests and charges of racial profiling.
In addition to being Democratic strongholds, Chicago and Illinois have long been destinations for immigrants and today about a third of the city's population is Hispanic, according to U.S. Census Data.
Local politicians have responded by protecting immigrants from federal law enforcement. Illinois enacted sanctuary state laws in 2017. Chicago has had sanctuary protection in place since 1985.
Immigrant rights groups are urging Chicagoans to report sightings of federal agents to a hotline. Advocates will respond to the reported sightings in person, distributing information on what rights people have when confronted by immigration agents and recording the detainments if they arrive in time.
Hundreds of Homeland Security officials are expected to operate from a naval base outside Chicago.
What to know about the ICE raids so far
Charges against the four people arrested in Chicago by Homeland Security on September 7 include aggravated sexual assault of a child, domestic battery and armed robbery.
Immigration officials did not immediately respond to questions about where the four men were charged. USA TODAY is not naming them as it's unclear if they been convicted on the criminal charges shared by Homeland Security.
In an official statement, an agency spokesperson said "ICE has always operated in Chicago, targeting enforcement around the dangerous criminal aliens that are drawn to this sanctuary city, which protects them over law-abiding citizens. Since January 20, ICE has arrested some of the worst of the worst illegal aliens in Chicago - gang members, murderers, child rapists, drug traffickers - that roam the community and wreak havoc on neighbors. We will continue our law enforcement and public safety mission, undeterred, as we surge ICE resources in the city."
Latino neighborhoods shutter ahead of raids
Chicago's Southwest Side has long been a haven for Mexican immigrants and locals say that people living in the area have responded to the president's raids by taking precautions when leaving for work or simply not showing up at all.
"We've already seen a huge decrease in people going outside," said Any Huamani, a member of the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council on the Southwest Side. "No vendors are outside, people are scared, people are afraid."
Huamani said people knowing what rights they have when confronted by immigration agents, including the right to ignore questions about immigration status or open a door to agents who lack a warrant, is essential.
"This is what stops agents from trying to kidnap us," she said.
Huamani also serves on a team that responds in person to calls to the immigrant rights coalition's hotline. Around 30 such rapid response teams have been set up around the state in response to the Trump raids, immigration advocates said at the news conference.
LA community urges Chicago to confront ICE 'head on'
Federal immigration enforcement raids in Chicago come after the Trump administration targeted the Democratically led cities of Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Angeleno immigration advocates told USA TODAY that they have already begun sharing information with Chicago advocates on how to handle increased immigration raids.
"One of the ways we believe fighting back is important is to not cower when troops are deployed and when ICE raids start to increase," said Marisol Marquez, an activist with Centro CSO, an LA immigrant rights group. "We think that confronting it head-on is the best source of courage for people and resilience."
Having teams of people ready to respond to immigration agent sightings is a key first step, Marquez said, to ensuring people feel safe walking their neighborhoods.
She also said it's important for communities to continue living their normal lives as much as possible, including proceeding with public events.
"We can't be shy, we can't show that we accept the patrolling of the National Guard to terrorize our community," Marquez said. "We want to let our neighbors know not to be discouraged, our community is united and we will continue to be united."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is ICE chilling Chicago? Trump 'blitz' draws rage from immigrants
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