The Trump administration initiated an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation, dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” in Chicago on Monday, sparking immediate opposition from local and state leaders who claim they were not notified. The move is part of President Trump’s broader strategy to expand federal law enforcement presence in Democrat-run cities to address crime and undocumented immigration.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the blitz on social media, dedicating it “in honor of Katie Abraham,” a young Illinois woman killed in a fatal car crash in January. The suspect, a man from Guatemala, is an undocumented immigrant, according to authorities. The DHS post accused Illinois’ sanctuary policies, upheld by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, of allowing “criminal illegal aliens” to “roam free on American streets.”
The operation intensifies the ongoing political battle between the federal government and Democratic leaders over immigration policy. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have consistently supported sanctuary city policies, which restrict local police from assisting federal immigration enforcement without a criminal warrant.
