CHICAGO: In a large-scale immigration enforcement operation early Friday morning, U.S. Border Patrol agents, in coordination with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), detained dozens of individuals across multiple neighborhoods in Chicago.
According to official sources, the raid targeted individuals suspected of residing in the country without proper documentation. The operation reportedly focused on several residential areas on the city’s Southwest Side, with agents seen conducting door-to-door checks and stopping vehicles.
Among those detained were several U.S. citizens and children, prompting criticism from local officials and civil rights groups.
The raid targeted alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), two of the people arrested were confirmed gang members. Most others were taken into custody on immigration-related charges.
Witnesses said agents arrived by helicopter, broke down doors, and ordered residents to the ground. Some U.S. citizens were briefly detained, and several children were separated from their parents before being released. One man said he was zip-tied and held for hours before agents realized he was a citizen.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the operation, calling the tactics excessive and raising concerns about civil rights violations. Federal officials defended the raid as part of “Operation Midway Blitz,” a broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
Protests broke out the following day outside an ICE facility in the Chicago area. Videos circulated online showing agents using tear gas and pepper balls to disperse crowds.
Civil rights organizations say they are reviewing the incident for potential legal action.–Reuters
