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What to know about immigration enforcement raids in Chicago after nearly 2 months

As the Trump administration’s mass deportation raids enter their second month, their impact has been felt across the Chicago region and the nation. Political tensions have deepened, hundreds have been detained or arrested, and thousands have protested—from a two-story brick U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in suburban Broadview to city street corners and suburban downtowns.

Throughout it all, activists, protesters, and journalists have faced tear gas and pepper ball rounds. President Donald Trump’s threats to send in the National Guard—first to quell crime in Chicago, then to assist ICE and Border Patrol agents—have, for the moment, not come to fruition.

Here’s what we know about federal immigration enforcement in and around Chicago, as well as other immigration-related stories and the National Guard deployment.

**Stay current with the latest news by subscribing to the Chicago Tribune and signing up for our free Immigration Bulletin newsletter.**

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### How We Got Here

On September 8, President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security announced a surge in immigration enforcement in Chicago, dubbing it “Operation Midway Blitz.” The operation targets what officials refer to as “criminal illegal aliens” who have allegedly benefited from the city and state’s sanctuary policies.

This announcement came more than two weeks after Trump said he planned to target Chicago due to its crime rates. In response, Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson warned residents about potential immigration sweeps.

“Let’s be clear, the terror and cruelty is the point, not the safety of anyone living here,” Pritzker said on September 2.

Trump had set the stage for the operation with a social media post showing military helicopters flying over Chicago’s lakefront skyline under the title “Chipocalypse Now.” “Chicago is about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” Trump wrote, a day after signing an executive order renaming the Department of Defense to its pre-1949 title.

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### ICE in and Around Chicago

Operation Midway Blitz has been visible throughout Chicago and its suburbs. Incidents have ranged from tear gas deployed in Logan Square and the detention of a mother and child at Millennium Park to a manhunt in suburban Mount Prospect and multiple arrests involving rideshare drivers at O’Hare International Airport.

A federal judge has ruled that all immigration enforcement agents must wear body cameras. The judge expressed particular concern over alleged violations during recent clashes, including an incident on Chicago’s East Side where agents used a controversial and potentially dangerous tactic to disable a fleeing vehicle before deploying tear gas during a tense gathering.

Tear gas usage by federal agents during immigration raids has escalated lately—from neighborhoods like Little Village to Lakeview and Irving Park.

On September 12, the operation took a violent turn when agents fatally shot a man in Franklin Park. The man, identified by federal officials as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, a 38-year-old Mexican citizen living illegally in the U.S., allegedly tried to flee a traffic stop and struck the officer with his vehicle.

On October 4, federal immigration authorities shot a Chicago woman in Brighton Park, after she allegedly tried to impede them. In the shooting’s aftermath, protesters gathered at the intersection to confront federal forces. Some threw water bottles as agents responded with tear gas and flash-bang grenades.

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### Impact on Local Communities

Gig workers, street vendors, and day laborers have been caught up in the crackdown. Emotional arrests have unfolded in the region, including one where federal agents detained a man outside his Naperville apartment as his young sons watched and cried “Pa, te amo.”

In other cases, a Rogers Park man was fined $130 for not carrying his legal papers during questioning, and an Oak Park attorney arrested near a school described agents pointing guns at him and referencing a “Chiraq Team 2” group chat.

Federal immigration raids have also targeted local businesses and events:
– Swap-O-Rama on the Southwest Side was raided by federal agents.
– Videos of targeted raids in Carpentersville circulated online, including activity near the village hall.
– A flower vendor arrested during the launch of Operation Midway Blitz was deported to Mexico.

Waukegan’s mayor has even stepped in during a Border Patrol arrest to ensure the safety of residents.

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### What’s Happening in Broadview?

The small suburb of Broadview has become a national spotlight due to confrontations between federal agents and protestors at the local ICE processing center. Since the launch of Operation Midway Blitz in early September, protesters have held near-daily demonstrations outside the facility.

Larger crowds—and subsequent arrests—often gather on Fridays and Sundays, sometimes violating Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson’s order that protests only occur between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

A controversial 8-foot-high security fence erected by federal officials outside the facility was torn down on October 14 following a court order. Broadview officials pushed back, deeming the fence “illegally built,” and demanded the Department of Homeland Security remove it.

Residents remain fearful as the ICE center becomes a battleground amid the immigration blitz. Mayor Thompson, who is the first Black woman to lead Broadview, has refused to take “a position of fear” while navigating the national attention.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently indicated that ICE may expand operations in Broadview, stating, “we’re here to stay.”

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### Chicago Takes Action

In Chicago, aldermen and residents are responding in various ways—leading street patrols, sounding whistles to alert communities of enforcement activity, and organizing protests.

“We’ll do everything in our power to make sure that ICE is out of Chicago,” Alderman Michael Rodriguez of Little Village told the Tribune on October 3.

Numerous U.S. citizens and others have reported being detained or questioned, including:
– A 44-year-old U.S. citizen zip-tied and questioned after work at a downtown bar.
– A Rogers Park man fined for not carrying his legal documents during questioning.

If stopped by ICE, here is what you should do to protect yourself.

Local clergy and faith leaders have publicly condemned the crackdown as “antithetical to the Gospel,” while cafes and restaurants across the city have posted signs barring immigration agents.

Community activism continues ward by ward, with faith leaders offering resources, moral support, and solidarity to those affected.

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### The “No Kings” Protests

On October 18, the “Hands Off Chicago” protest at Butler Field in Grant Park drew a large crowd. The sound of whistles—an ominous warning signaling ICE activity in recent weeks—rang out as a sign of solidarity and resistance.

Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the crowd:

“There are those in this country that have decided, at the behest of this president, to declare war on Chicago and American cities across this country,” Johnson said, eliciting boos from attendees.

“They have clearly decided that they want a rematch of the Civil War. But we are here to stand firm, to stay committed, that we will not bend, we will not bow, we will not cower, we will not submit.”

This demonstration was one of roughly 2,500 similar protests nationwide—another flashpoint in Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown.

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### Could the National Guard Be Next?

Governor J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly criticized the Trump administration’s plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, arguing that the stated purpose—combating violent crime—is a cover for militarizing Democratic-controlled cities as political payback.

Appearing on ABC’s *This Week* on October 13, Pritzker said the administration’s goal is to “militarize, especially blue cities and blue states.”

On October 17, the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court for permission to dispatch troops to the Chicago area while an appeal is pending.

However, a federal judge in Chicago extended a restraining order on October 22, barring President Trump from deploying the National Guard in Illinois as officials await a Supreme Court ruling that could decide the case.

Members of the Texas National Guard arrived in the Chicago area on October 7 as part of preparations.

Trump has discussed invoking the two-century-old Insurrection Act—a statutory exception to the Posse Comitatus Act—which would allow U.S. military involvement in law enforcement during a “rebellion” or when enforcing federal law is deemed “impractical.”

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The situation remains fluid as Chicago and its suburbs grapple with the ongoing immigration enforcement surge, community resistance, and the looming possibility of National Guard deployment.

Stay informed with the Chicago Tribune for the latest updates on this critical issue.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/27/chicago-immigration-enforcement-raids/

Man fleeing immigration agents is fatally struck by a vehicle on a Virginia highway

A 24-year-old Honduran man, Josué Castro Rivera, who was fleeing federal immigration agents in Virginia, died on a highway after being struck by a vehicle. His death follows recent incidents in which three other immigrants in Chicago and California were killed during immigration enforcement operations under the Trump administration’s crackdown.

Castro Rivera was headed to a gardening job on Thursday when his vehicle was pulled over by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, according to his brother, Henry Castro. Agents attempted to detain Castro Rivera and the three other passengers in the vehicle. Castro Rivera fled on foot, tried to cross Interstate 264 in Norfolk, and was fatally struck by a passing vehicle, according to state and federal authorities.

Castro Rivera had come to the United States four years ago and was working to send money to his family in Honduras, his brother said. “He had a very good heart,” Henry Castro shared on Sunday.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Castro Rivera’s vehicle was stopped by ICE as part of a “targeted, intelligence-based” operation. Passengers were detained for allegedly living in the country without legal permission. DHS said in a statement that Castro Rivera “resisted heavily and fled,” and died after being hit by a passing vehicle.

Virginia State Police reported that officers responded to a vehicle-pedestrian crash at around 11 a.m. Thursday on eastbound I-264 near the Military Highway interchange. The victim was struck by a 2002 Ford pickup and pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

Federal authorities and state police referred to the man as Jose, while family members said his name was Josué. Neither DHS nor state police have explained the discrepancy.

Henry Castro called his brother’s death an injustice and is raising funds to transport Josué’s body back to Honduras for the funeral. “He didn’t deserve everything that happened to him,” he said.

DHS blamed Castro Rivera’s death on “a direct result of every politician, activist and reporter who continue to spread propaganda and misinformation about ICE’s mission and ways to avoid detention.”

Similar deaths during immigration operations elsewhere have sparked protests, lawsuits, and calls for investigations amid claims that initial accounts by the Trump administration were misleading.

Last month, in suburban Chicago, federal immigration agents fatally shot a Mexican man during a traffic stop. DHS initially claimed a federal officer was “seriously injured,” but police body camera footage later showed the officer walking around and describing the injuries as minor.

In July, a farmworker died after falling from a greenhouse roof during a chaotic ICE raid at a California cannabis facility. And in August, another man fled from federal agents onto a freeway in California and was fatally struck by a vehicle.

These incidents highlight ongoing concerns about the methods and consequences of immigration enforcement operations in the United States.
https://abc7.com/post/man-fleeing-immigration-agents-is-fatally-struck-vehicle-virginia-highway/18076914/

ICE detiene a familias enteras para interrogarlas dentro de 26 Federal Plaza en un cambio de estrategia

Tras la indignación generada por la redada del ICE en Canal Street el martes de la semana pasada, agentes encapuchados aparentemente adoptaron una nueva estrategia en el 26 Federal Plaza: arrestar a varias familias a la vez para interrogarlas.

En los días posteriores a la mencionada redada en Chinatown, la sensación de temor y desesperación dentro de la corte de Manhattan solo se hizo más palpable. De acuerdo con fuentes cercanas a los procedimientos de ICE dentro del número 26 Federal Plaza, las tácticas de los agentes han cambiado radicalmente.

Asimismo, la semana pasada, un hombre ruso, junto a su esposa, su hijo pequeño y su bebé, fue arrestado tan rápido como salió de la sala del tribunal en el piso 12, solo para ser liberado más tarde. “¿Pensaron que íbamos a hacer eso? No lo haríamos”, comentó un agente de ICE, refiriéndose a la detención de la familia. No obstante, fueron detenidos de nuevo a pocos pasos por otro agente, quien dijo: “Necesitamos hacerles algunas preguntas”. Sin tocarlos, la familia del hombre fue llevada a un ascensor. Actualmente, no se sabe de su paradero.

Un incidente parecido ocurrió pocos minutos después. Esta vez, un padre llevaba a su hija pequeña en brazos y su esposa fueron escoltados a un ascensor. Cuando los fotoperiodistas empezaron a tomar fotos, un agente comenzó a agitar la mano frente a las cámaras para impedir que las imágenes quedaran claras.

Ese mismo día, un grupo de agentes federales se acercó a una mujer que estaba esperando el ascensor y verificaron su documentación. Al decidir que no era la persona que buscaban, la dejaron sola, sin hacerle daño, pero el miedo a que pasara lo peor la hizo romper en llanto.

En otros momentos, se podía observar a algunos de los agentes con el rostro cubierto, deslizándose en los ascensores mientras los inmigrantes entraban, desapareciendo cuando las puertas se cerraban.

Este cambio de táctica se produce luego de meses de detenciones físicamente intensas que han visto a algunas personas que acuden al tribunal siendo derribados al piso y a otros llevados por los pasillos hasta perderlos de vista, informó AM NY.

Un observador de la corte, que se identificó como Peter y trabaja para tratar de rastrear a los detenidos por el ICE, indicó que esta nueva práctica de llevarse a las familias completas es extremadamente preocupante.

“Detener a familias enteras, incluso temporalmente, representa una grave escalada de tácticas. Con las separaciones familiares en el tribunal, aunque trágicas, el beneficio es que se puede brindar ayuda y asesoramiento adecuados a la familia restante de inmediato”, explicó Peter.

“Cuando una familia simplemente desaparece en el éter de la plaza federal, se queda sin ninguno de los recursos que son cruciales para apoyar a una familia después de la detención. Quizás ese sea el objetivo de esta nueva práctica”.

Asimismo, en una visita sorpresa el 23 de octubre, el representante demócrata Dan Goldman se enfrentó a varios sujetos encapuchados, exigiendo ver sus placas y preguntándoles para qué organización trabajan.

En este caso particular, una docena de oficiales estaban apostados afuera de una sala de tribunal, esperando a que el juez liberara a sus demandados. Poco después del mediodía, un gran grupo de personas, principalmente familias, salió de la corte al pasillo.

Un padre joven que acunaba a su hijo fue arrestado inmediatamente, lo que causó que su esposa se abriera paso entre la muchedumbre y gritara pidiendo piedad. Los fotógrafos de los medios y el congresista observaban con atención.

Al final, los agentes lo dejaron ir y las familias corrieron en estampida hacia los ascensores. Golpearon el botón de bajada, se empujaron y treparon unos a otros para entrar en el ascensor como si su vida dependiera de ello.

El mencionado observador de la corte dijo que cree que, gracias a la presencia de la prensa y a la visita sorpresa de Goldman, el hombre fue dejado en libertad.

El viernes, los políticos buscaron mantener la presión, esta vez con la aparición sorpresiva del interventor de la ciudad de Nueva York, Brad Lander.

Sigue leyendo.
https://eldiariony.com/2025/10/27/ice-detiene-a-familias-enteras-para-interrogarlas-dentro-de-26-federal-plaza-en-un-cambio-de-estrategia/

Immigration column missed some key points | Letter

Jim Fossel’s Oct. 10 column on immigration (“Democrats’ inaction on immigration is coming home to roost”) presents a very one-sided view of the issue. While he may have a point that Democrats didn’t do enough to stem the flow of undocumented immigrants, he overlooks President Trump’s lack of interest in solving the problem.

Trump actively torpedoed a bipartisan solution because it would have deprived him of a political talking point. Fossel claims that Democrats didn’t object when President Obama deported large numbers of immigrants, but there is a significant difference in how those deportations were carried out. Obama did not turn deportation into a cruel media spectacle.

It is not widely known that Obama deported more than 5 million people. According to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), Obama focused on “the deportation of criminals and recent unauthorized border crossers.” MPI also reports that both the Clinton and second Bush administrations deported many more immigrants than Obama did.

In contrast, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security says it will deport around 600,000 people this year—about one-eighth the number that Obama deported in four years and roughly a quarter of the rate under Clinton and Bush.

Trump campaigned on removing violent criminals. If that had been his actual focus, there would likely be far less objection. Especially if deportations were not carried out by masked agents forcibly detaining people off the street simply because they appear nervous. As regional Chief Border Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino noted, “Who wouldn’t be nervous if approached by people with guns and no identification?”

Trump’s approach to immigration, much like his overall style of governing, is marked by shock and awe. Fossel should acknowledge that Trump’s methods may be no more effective than those of his predecessors in both parties.
https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/10/26/immigration-column-missed-some-key-points-letter/

Federal immigration agents deploy tear gas in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood

Federal immigration agents once again deployed tear gas on the streets of Chicago this Saturday, despite increasing scrutiny from a federal judge regarding their use of chemical weapons. The agents released tear gas in the Irving Park neighborhood on the city’s northwest side.

Videos captured at the intersection of North Kildare Avenue and West Old Irving Park show a group of local residents marching down the street, filming the incident, and blowing whistles while vocally confronting the federal agents. The officers, all masked and some wearing sunglasses, faced the crowd as tensions escalated.

Carlos Rodriguez, a resident who recorded the videos, can be heard saying, “The (expletive) out of here man. The fuck are you guys doing here? Get out of our city.” Another man yells, “Hey, you are all (expletive) cowards.” A woman also demands that the officers, who bore Border Patrol insignia, show their identification. Throughout the scene, the piercing sound of whistles echoed down the block.

Some of the agents drove away in a white SUV as the crowd called them fascists, but another vehicle without license plates remained on site. In a separate video, thick plumes of smoke billowed down the street as the crowd’s chants and whistles intensified. Onlookers scrambled to the sidewalk to avoid the chemical agents; one man was even seen barefoot and wearing his Chicago Blackhawks pajamas.

“Tear gas at Old Irving Park, right now,” Rodriguez says in the footage. “Our own neighborhood. Scaring our children. Unbelievable. Never thought this would happen in my neighborhood. Scaring our children to death. Thinking that this is a cool thing to do.”

In recent weeks, immigration agents have used tear gas in multiple Chicago neighborhoods including Logan Square, Brighton Park, Little Village, East Side, and Lakeview. These actions have drawn intense criticism and legal scrutiny amid allegations of excessive force and claims that the agents are violating a federal court order designed to limit the use of chemical weapons.

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis recently ordered Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino to appear in court personally this Tuesday, as part of an ongoing inquiry examining possible violations of her restraining order on crowd-control tactics, including the deployment of tear gas during Operation Midway Blitz.

Federal officials’ credibility has been repeatedly questioned during the Trump administration’s Operations Midway Blitz, including by U.S. District Judge April Perry. Judge Perry recently stated that the federal government has a credibility problem, rendering many of their claims “unreliable.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously defended the use of tear gas in Little Village last Thursday, initially stating that their agents had been surrounded by protesters who struck Chief Bovino in the head with a rock. On Saturday, DHS released a statement supporting its use of tear gas in Lakeview, stating that agents were “swarmed by agitators” who allegedly tried to deflate a vehicle’s tires.

At this time, the department has not commented on the most recent use of tear gas in Irving Park.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/25/chicago-tear-gas-irving-park/

Sean Duffy Details How He Could Hammer California For Giving Illegal Aliens CDLs Following Fatal Wreck

I am currently conducting a quick review of their lack of compliance. This assessment aims to identify the key areas where standards have not been met and highlight necessary improvements. By thoroughly examining these issues, we can work towards ensuring full compliance moving forward.
https://dailycaller.com/2025/10/24/sean-duffy-details-how-he-could-hammer-california-for-giving-illegal-aliens-cdls-following-fatal-wreck/

City of Miami unveils mural honoring children of the Pedro Pan Program and hero Cuban general

MIAMI (WSVN) — A new mural has been unveiled in the City of Miami to honor a significant chapter in South Florida’s history.

The artwork pays tribute to more than 14,000 children who participated in the Pedro Pan Program. During the 1960s, these children were sent from Cuba to the United States by their families in an effort to escape the Castro regime.

In addition to honoring the Pedro Pan children, the mural also celebrates General Antonio Maceo, known as “The Bronze Titan.” Maceo was a hero who fought for Cuba’s independence against Spain in the 1800s.

This meaningful display is located at the intersection of Southwest 13th Avenue and 10th Street, where visitors can view and reflect on this important piece of history.
https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/city-of-miami-unveils-mural-honoring-children-of-the-pedro-pan-program-and-hero-cuban-general/

Illegal immigrant allegedly causes fatal semi-truck crash on highway, killing driver: officials

An illegal immigrant in Indiana was arrested after allegedly causing a fatal semi-truck crash, according to officials.

The Portage Police Department reported that Broko Stankovic was driving on US Highway 20 in Indiana on Wednesday when traffic came to a stop due to a Ram Sprinter turning near Douglas Drive. However, the suspect did not appear to slow down in his semi-truck, according to FOX 32.

Officials stated that Stankovic attempted to make a hard evasive left turn, entering opposite traffic and colliding with a Subaru Crosstrek. As a result, the semi-truck jackknifed and struck the Ram Sprinter, which was pushed into a road sign.

Tragically, the 54-year-old driver of the Subaru died at the scene.

Further investigation revealed that Stankovic was in possession of a suspended Illinois Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) belonging to a family member, but did not have a valid CDL himself. Additionally, his company was not registered with the Department of Transportation.

Due to Stankovic’s immigration status, ICE placed a detainer on him as he was being transported to the Porter County Jail. He has been charged with felony reckless homicide and felony criminal recklessness resulting in death.

Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE for more information.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/21/us-news/illegal-immigrant-allegedly-causes-fatal-semi-truck-crash-on-highway-killing-driver-officials/

DHS to charge migrants granted humanitarian parole $1K fee

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday the implementation of a new $1,000 immigration fee for migrants paroled into the United States.

According to a statement from the department’s public affairs office, the goal of this fee is to “institute accountability and prevent rampant fraud of the parole system.”

In addition to enhancing accountability, the fee is intended to improve oversight of the parole process, ensuring that resources are used effectively and that the system is protected from abuse.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5559567-homeland-security-migrant-parole-fee/

ICE activity in Carpentersville outside village hall, near Dundee-Crown High School

Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were present outside Carpentersville Village Hall on Wednesday. This information was shared through social media posts by the local police department.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251016/news/ice-activity-in-carpentersville-outside-village-hall-near-dundee-crown-high-school/