Photo: Alamy
FBI Director Kash Patel said a coordinated federal law enforcement operation in the Chicago area resulted in more than 300 arrests over a 60-day period, targeting violent crime, drug trafficking, child exploitation and other offenses.
“Operation New Dawn represents a massive, whole-of-government approach under President Trump’s leadership to cracking down on violent crimes and crimes against children in great American cities,” Patel told Fox News Digital.
“This was a sweeping operation in Chicago that brought together 11 different federal agencies across the government who worked together to execute 305 arrests and recover 24 children, many of whom had been reported kidnapped or missing, as well as charging subjects with robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, child exploitation and more,” he added.
“The success of this op and more to come through initiatives like Summer Heat 2.0 should be a clear message that this FBI, our partners and the Justice Department led by AG Todd Blanche are full throttle on crushing criminal networks in this country no matter where they are.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, the operation involved 11 federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations.
Authorities said those arrested were suspected of crimes including robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, child exploitation, firearms offenses, gun trafficking and immigration violations.
Federal officials described Operation New Dawn as a “badgeless” initiative, emphasizing that participating agencies worked under the banner of the United States rather than representing individual departments.
U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros said the operation demonstrated a new model for federal law enforcement.
“It is my view that to combat violence, federal law enforcement must move at the speed of violence,” Boutros said. “The remarkable success of Operation New Dawn resoundingly proves that point. Chicago’s federal anti-violence apparatus united under one banner, the United States flag and not the shield, badge, banner or logo of any agency, to make their presence felt on the streets of Chicago and make it known that they are a force to be reckoned with in the battle against violence.”