Photo: Alamy
Federal immigration authorities have arrested more than 800 people in Illinois during a September enforcement campaign targeting Chicago, the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday.
The arrests, made by officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, were carried out as part of “Operation Midway Blitz,” which began Sept. 8. DHS officials said the effort focused on individuals living in the country illegally, including those with violent criminal records.
“The Trump Administration will not allow violent criminals or repeat offenders to terrorize our neighborhoods or victimize our children and innocent Americans,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “We will not allow sanctuary politicians or violent rioters to stop us from enforcing the law and arresting pedophiles, murderers, gang members, rapists, and domestic abusers from American communities.”
Among those taken into custody over the past three and a half weeks are individuals convicted of crimes including statutory rape, aggravated sexual assault, fraud and domestic violence, according to DHS.
ICE officials named the operation in honor of Katie Abraham, an Illinois woman killed by a drunk driver identified as Julio Cucul-Bol, an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally.
The enforcement campaign has unfolded as federal officials also dispatched additional Border Patrol agents to Chicago and Portland. The move followed unrest outside immigration facilities after a mass shooting in Dallas last week that killed one detainee and left two others wounded.
Over the weekend, armed Border Patrol agents were seen patrolling downtown Chicago, including along Michigan Avenue.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts in the Windy City.
“The Department of War has received a request for assistance to safeguard federal personnel, property, and functions in the state of Illinois. Any decisions will be made in accordance with established processes and announced at the appropriate time,” Parnell said.
