The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Monday that it has launched “Operation Midway Blitz,” a new enforcement initiative aimed at identifying, arresting, and deporting illegal immigrants in Chicago who are linked to serious crimes.

BREAKING — THE SURGE IS HERE: President Trump is sending federal agents into CHICAGO, under “Operation Midway Blitz.”

“This ICE operation will target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary policies… pic.twitter.com/tJeLHkZM8B

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 8, 2025

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The operation is named in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed in Illinois by a drunk driver later identified as an illegal immigrant involved in a hit-and-run accident.

DHS officials said the operation will prioritize those deemed the most dangerous, including individuals with records of violent crime, drug trafficking, and gang affiliation.

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the effort in a press release, saying the initiative “will target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Chicago.”

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McLaughlin criticized Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and local officials for policies that she said have contributed to the problem.

“For years, Governor Pritzker and his fellow sanctuary politicians released Tren de Aragua gang members, rapists, kidnappers, and drug traffickers on Chicago’s streets—putting American lives at risk and making Chicago a magnet for criminals,” McLaughlin said.

She emphasized that the federal government is taking a different approach.

“President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message: no city is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return,” McLaughlin added.

According to DHS, specific individuals have already been identified as targets under the operation.

“The surge has begun!”

“Operation Midway Blitz” launches in Chicago:

“I was out with one of ICE’s teams, and we arrested this individual… a 43-year-old illegal alien from Mexico. He has been convicted in 2024 of forcibly sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13.” pic.twitter.com/qXwJHFIpfK

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 8, 2025

These include a 47-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico with prior convictions for battery, aggravated assault, and criminal damage to property, among other charges.

Another focus is an alleged member of the Tren de Aragua gang who has been repeatedly arrested for burglary and shoplifting.

Federal officials indicated that “Operation Midway Blitz” will deploy resources across Chicago to track and remove individuals fitting the outlined criteria.

The operation is intended to serve as a signal that immigration enforcement will not be curtailed by state or local sanctuary policies.

The announcement comes shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision supporting the Trump administration’s authority to conduct immigration-related stops in Los Angeles.

That ruling, delivered in a 6-3 vote, reversed a lower court’s restrictions on investigative stops that had prohibited the use of certain factors such as location, employment type, or language spoken.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, stated that “the balance of harms and equities in this case tips in favor of the Government.”

The ruling effectively restored the administration’s authority to carry out broad enforcement operations in areas with high numbers of illegal aliens.

President Trump has also signaled that federal involvement in Chicago could extend beyond immigration enforcement.

He has said he is considering deploying the National Guard to address crime levels in the city, a move that would add another layer of federal action. If carried out, that step is expected to draw legal challenges and political resistance from state and local officials.

“Operation Midway Blitz” marks the latest step in the administration’s immigration strategy, which officials say is aimed at ensuring public safety while reinforcing the message that sanctuary jurisdictions cannot shield individuals from federal immigration law.

The operation is underway in Chicago, with DHS pledging continued action against those identified as priorities for removal.

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