The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a new anti-migrant operation in Chicago, raising concerns among immigrant communities and rights activists. The initiative, called Operation Midway Blitz, is being carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign against so-called “sanctuary cities.”
According to the DHS, the operation was named in memory of Katherine Abraham, a 20-year-old Illinois woman who was allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant accused of drunk driving. Federal officials say the move is part of their mission to make sure “no city is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens.” DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stressed that those who enter the U.S. illegally and break the law will be hunted down, arrested, deported, and banned from returning.
While DHS did not reveal the full scope or timeline of the crackdown, ICE began making arrests in Chicago on Sunday. Activists said at least five people were taken into custody, including a well-known flower vendor and others who were detained at bus stops or while walking on the streets. This marked a shift from ICE’s earlier tactics, where officers usually focused on serving arrest warrants at specific addresses or detaining people in immigration courts. Rights groups say this new street-level approach creates fear and uncertainty in entire communities.
The operation follows similar immigration crackdowns in Democratic-led cities like Los Angeles, Washington, and Boston. For years, Trump and his top aides have strongly opposed sanctuary policies, which prevent local authorities from fully cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. Chicago and Illinois laws currently restrict police officers from asking about a person’s immigration status or handing them over to ICE without a court order.
Although ICE has stated that its primary focus is on immigrants who commit violent crimes, data shows that many of those arrested have no criminal record. This has raised alarm among community leaders, who warn that families are being torn apart and people are being punished simply for their immigration status. The fear is so strong that many migrants are now avoiding public spaces, schools, and even places of worship.
The crackdown also comes after President Trump reversed former President Joe Biden’s policy of protecting “sensitive locations” such as schools, churches, and hospitals from immigration enforcement. As a result, some religious institutions in Chicago, like Lincoln United Methodist Church, have decided to move services online to prevent worshippers from being exposed to ICE raids.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has added fuel to the debate by overturning lower court restrictions on ICE operations in California. The ruling now allows the use of “apparent ethnicity” as a valid reason for stopping and arresting individuals. Although the Court did not directly rule on whether racial profiling is constitutional, it effectively gave the administration broader powers to carry out arrests.
Critics have strongly condemned the decision. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the ruling gives federal agents the power to racially profile, detain people without evidence or warrants, and remove them without due process. She warned that this would increase fear in immigrant neighborhoods and further damage trust in government institutions that are meant to protect communities, not persecute them.
With arrests already underway in Chicago and fears spreading nationwide, immigrant rights advocates believe Operation Midway Blitz signals a much tougher immigration policy. For thousands of families, the threat of detention and deportation has now become part of daily life.