CHICAGO – Protesters gathered outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, on September 12, 2025, to voice their opposition to “Operation Midway Blitz,” a significant federal immigration enforcement operation underway in the Chicago area. The operation, launched by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earlier in the week, has intensified tensions between federal authorities and local leaders, drawing criticism over its scope, execution, and perceived lack of coordination.
‘Operation Midway Blitz’ Targets ‘Criminal Illegal Aliens’
The Department of Homeland Security announced “Operation Midway Blitz” on September 9, 2025, stating its purpose was to target “criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois.” The operation is reportedly being carried out in honor of Katie Abraham, a young woman killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run crash earlier this year, for which an undocumented immigrant has been charged. DHS officials claim the operation is necessary because sanctuary policies in Illinois and Chicago allow individuals with criminal records to “roam free and terrorize innocent Americans without consequence.” Federal authorities have stated that those arrested under the operation have prior convictions or pending charges for serious crimes, including sexual assault, armed robbery, domestic violence, and DUI. DHS has reported arrests of individuals described as “pedophiles, rapists, abusers, armed robbers, and other violent thugs.”
Local Leaders Denounce Operation, Cite Lack of Notice
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have been vocal in their criticism of the federal operation. Mayor Johnson stated that the city received “no notice of any enhanced immigration action” prior to the announcement of Operation Midway Blitz, deeming it “reckless, unconstitutional, militarized immigration enforcement.” He signed an executive order reinforcing Chicago’s sanctuary policies, which prohibit city police from cooperating with federal immigration agents without a warrant and require officers to wear identifiable uniforms. Governor Pritzker echoed these concerns, characterizing the operation as an “overreach” and questioning its purpose, stating, “This isn’t about fighting crime. That requires support and coordination—yet we’ve experienced nothing like that over the past several weeks.” Pritzker also expressed worry about the fear instilled in communities, with residents afraid to leave their homes or take their children to school.
Protesters Gather Outside Broadview ICE Facility
On September 12, activists organized a 12-hour demonstration outside the ICE processing center in Broadview, Illinois, aiming to impede the federal operation. Organizers claimed the facility is being used illegally as a detention center and sought to disrupt ICE’s activities. Reports from the scene indicated that some federal agents wore masks and camouflage, making identification difficult, and that agents had to push back protesters to clear a path for vehicles. This protest is part of ongoing demonstrations that have been occurring outside ICE facilities in the Chicago suburbs.
Sanctuary Policies and Federal Enforcement Clash
Operation Midway Blitz highlights the ongoing conflict between federal immigration enforcement priorities and Illinois’ sanctuary policies, such as the TRUST Act and Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance. These laws limit local law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with ICE, barring them from inquiring about immigration status or detaining individuals for federal agents without a court order. DHS argues these policies encourage undocumented immigrants to come to Illinois, while state and local officials contend they protect communities and uphold constitutional rights. A federal court recently upheld the legality of these sanctuary policies, reinforcing local control over cooperation with federal immigration activities.
Broadening Concerns and a Tense Atmosphere
The increased federal presence has generated anxiety among Chicago residents, particularly in Latino communities. While DHS maintains the operation is targeted at dangerous individuals, immigrant advocates suggest that indiscriminate arrests may occur, and that individuals without criminal records could be targeted. The operation has also involved the use of Naval Station Great Lakes as a staging area for hundreds of DHS agents. Amidst the heightened enforcement, an ICE agent was injured and a man was killed during an arrest attempt by ICE in Franklin Park, a suburb of Chicago, on the same day as the Broadview protest.
The future duration and full impact of Operation Midway Blitz remain unclear, with officials continuing to monitor the situation. The coordinated response from local and state leaders, coupled with community activism, signals a significant pushback against the federal administration’s immigration strategy in Chicago news.
