Photo: Alamy
The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday the start of a federal crackdown on illegal immigrants in Chicago, unveiling “Operation Midway Blitz” as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
In a press release, DHS said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement effort is being launched in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed in Illinois in a drunk driving hit-and-run involving criminal illegal alien Julio Cucul-Bol. Officials said the operation would focus on “criminal illegal aliens” who came to the state under sanctuary policies championed by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker.
“DHS is launching Operation Midway Blitz in honor of Katie Abraham who was killed in Illinois by a criminal illegal alien who should have never been in our country,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
“This operation will target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Chicago. For years, Governor Pritzker and his fellow sanctuary politicians released Tren de Aragua gang members, rapists, kidnappers, and drug traffickers on Chicago’s streets—putting American lives at risk and making Chicago a magnet for criminals. President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message: no city is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return,” she added.
The New York Times reported that while residents and advocacy groups appeared to be bracing for arrests, only a few people had been detained as of Monday morning.
News of the Chicago raids came the same day the U.S. Supreme Court upheld federal enforcement efforts in Southern California, allowing agents to proceed with deportation raids tied to immigration status, language, or race.
Trump on Sunday rejected accusations from Democrats that the operation amounted to declaring war on the city. “We’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities. We’re going to clean them up, so they don’t kill five people every weekend. That’s not war. That’s common sense,” he told reporters.
The DHS said it had identified “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens — including gang members, drug traffickers, kidnappers, and rapists — who were RELEASED back on to Illinois streets because of Governor Pritzker’s sanctuary policies.”