Thousands of Chicagoans took to the streets on Saturday, September 6, 2025, marching in protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to deploy National Guard troops and immigration agents to their city. Organized by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights under the banner “Chicago Says No Trump No Troops,” the demonstration was a vivid display of resistance and solidarity, drawing widespread attention from local residents, officials, and national observers alike, according to the Associated Press.
The protest, which wound its way past iconic landmarks like the Chicago Theater, was just the opening act in a dramatic week for the city. On Monday, September 8, the Trump administration officially launched its long-promised deportation campaign in Chicago, dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz.” The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced via social media that the operation would target immigrants without legal status who have sought refuge in Illinois and Chicago. The campaign, federal officials said, was dedicated to the memory of Katie Abraham, a 20-year-old woman killed earlier this year in a hit-and-run incident involving an undocumented immigrant, Julio Cucul-Bol, who has since been charged with reckless homicide, drunken driving, and leaving the scene of a crash.
The rollout of “Operation Midway Blitz” came just hours after President Trump once again denounced Chicago’s violent crime rates, highlighting recent shootings and killings and arguing that federal intervention was essential. Between Friday evening and Monday morning, six people were killed and 12 wounded in shootings across the city, according to a Chicago Sun-Times analysis cited by WBEZ. Trump, for his part, posted on Truth Social, “I want to help the people of Chicago, not hurt them. Only the Criminals will be hurt! We can move fast and stop this madness. The City and State have not been able to do the job.”
Yet, the federal government’s approach quickly drew sharp criticism from Illinois leaders and local officials, who accused the administration of using scare tactics and failing to coordinate with state and city authorities. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, in a pointed social media post on X, dismissed the operation as a “scare tactic that has nothing to do with any effort to tackle crime.” He added, “Once again, this isn’t about fighting crime. That requires support and coordination — yet we’ve experienced nothing like that over the past several weeks.” Pritzker’s spokesperson, Matt Hill, underscored the lack of communication from the White House, stating, “Like the public and press, we are learning of their operations through their social media as they attempt to produce a reality television show. As Trump has said himself, this is not about seriously fighting crime or reforming immigration – it’s about Trump’s plan to go to war with America’s third-largest city.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed these concerns, saying in a statement, “We have received no notice of any enhanced immigration action by the Trump administration.” Johnson also raised alarms about the prospect of militarized immigration enforcement, citing ICE’s “track record of detaining and deporting American citizens and violating the human rights of hundreds of detainees.” He pointed to a particularly egregious case: “ICE sent a 4-year-old boy with stage 4 kidney cancer to Honduras, even though the child was an American citizen.” Johnson further noted, “There are more than 500 documented incidents of human rights abuses at detention facilities since Trump took office, including deaths of detainees and alleged cases of sexual abuse of minors by federal immigration agents.”
Senator Dick Durbin joined in the criticism, describing “Operation Midway Blitz” as a “campaign to arrest hardworking immigrants with no criminal convictions.” In a prepared statement, Durbin argued, “These actions don’t make us safer. They are a waste of money, stoke fear, and represent another failed attempt at a distraction. While the President exhibits disdain for immigrants, Chicago embraces them as family who help make our economy thrive and our city strong.”
The federal government’s actions extended beyond Chicago’s city limits. In Evanston, a northern suburb, officials warned residents about impending immigration enforcement and urged vigilance. Mayor Daniel Biss told the Sun-Times that state officials had tipped off local governments about possible raids, and the city responded by turning off its license plate reader cameras after a state audit revealed suburban police departments had been sharing data with federal immigration authorities. “We all just need to step up and keep each other safe,” Biss said. The city encouraged residents to report ICE sightings and to know their rights in any interaction with federal agents, emphasizing, “During this time of uncertainty and fear, it is critical to maintain a strong sense of community, as well as provide accurate information.”
Meanwhile, outside the ICE processing facility in west suburban Broadview, a handful of demonstrators gathered on Monday afternoon, continuing a pattern of protest that had been building for days. Karen Byrne, a 60-year-old local resident, described the tense atmosphere, recounting seeing a young boy escorted from an unmarked van into the facility. “If it can happen to people they’re going after,” Byrne remarked, “it’ll happen to everyone.”
The Trump administration’s campaign has not only triggered protests and political backlash but also reignited a fierce debate about the role of federal immigration enforcement in local communities. DHS officials insisted that the operation was necessary to target “criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets.” President Trump, for his part, lashed out at Pritzker, whom he described as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, and called on Illinois residents to “band together and DEMAND PROTECTION. IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE!!! ACT NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!!”
Despite the administration’s tough rhetoric, city and state officials have pointed out that violent crime in Chicago has actually declined in recent years. A WBEZ analysis found that this summer saw the fewest killings in June, July, and August since 1965, complicating the narrative of a city in crisis. Nonetheless, the deployment of federal agents and the threat of militarized enforcement have left many residents anxious and uncertain, with local leaders scrambling to reassure communities and provide accurate information amid a climate of fear and confusion.
As the week unfolded, the city’s response was marked by a blend of defiance and determination. Protesters continued to march, city officials vowed to protect residents’ rights, and the debate over immigration enforcement in America’s third-largest city showed no signs of abating. The events in Chicago have become a microcosm of the broader national divide over immigration, public safety, and the limits of federal power, with each side digging in for what promises to be a long and contentious battle.
For now, Chicago’s streets remain filled with both protest and uncertainty, as residents and officials alike grapple with the immediate impact of “Operation Midway Blitz” and the broader questions it raises about justice, safety, and the fabric of American community life.
