PARK RIDGE, Ill. (AP) — At 3:30 a.m., ten ICE officers gathered in a suburban Chicago parking lot for a briefing on their target for arrest. As the operation unfolded across the Chicago area, concerns grew about its implications for immigrant communities amid President Trump's mass deportation agenda. ICE launched Operation Midway Blitz on September 8, leading to fears of large-scale arrests and aggressive tactics, similar to those seen in other cities. The Associated Press joined ICE on a ride-along to observe the unfolding situation firsthand.
In an early morning operation, ICE agents monitored a man fitting their target's description. After a brief pursuit, they stopped a car, only to discover it did not contain their initial target. However, the occupant was found to be in the U.S. illegally and was taken into custody. This pattern continued until the intended target was eventually apprehended. ICE officials hailed the operation a success, claiming no safety issues arose.
Despite the apparent success, activists voiced strong objections to ICE's methods. They pointed to previous incidents where excessive force was used, arguing that the operational environment is increasingly hostile due to aggressive enforcement strategies. Alderman Andre Vasquez recommended that ICE's presence exacerbates tensions, accusing them of attempting to incite a response from the community.
Recently, the shooting of immigrant Silverio Villegas González by an ICE officer intensified community fears and opposition to the operation. As federal officials investigate the incident, advocates call for accountability and a change in how ICE conducts its operations.
ICE claims that the Chicago operation will continue indefinitely, having already arrested nearly 550 people, with a significant portion being targeted arrests of individuals with criminal records. Charles, the acting head of Enforcement and Removal Operations, insisted that agents are acting appropriately in response to resistance from detainees, pointing out that the operation needed to happen as strict local laws had previously hindered immigration enforcement. 'It was time to hit Chicago,' he declared.
In an early morning operation, ICE agents monitored a man fitting their target's description. After a brief pursuit, they stopped a car, only to discover it did not contain their initial target. However, the occupant was found to be in the U.S. illegally and was taken into custody. This pattern continued until the intended target was eventually apprehended. ICE officials hailed the operation a success, claiming no safety issues arose.
Despite the apparent success, activists voiced strong objections to ICE's methods. They pointed to previous incidents where excessive force was used, arguing that the operational environment is increasingly hostile due to aggressive enforcement strategies. Alderman Andre Vasquez recommended that ICE's presence exacerbates tensions, accusing them of attempting to incite a response from the community.
Recently, the shooting of immigrant Silverio Villegas González by an ICE officer intensified community fears and opposition to the operation. As federal officials investigate the incident, advocates call for accountability and a change in how ICE conducts its operations.
ICE claims that the Chicago operation will continue indefinitely, having already arrested nearly 550 people, with a significant portion being targeted arrests of individuals with criminal records. Charles, the acting head of Enforcement and Removal Operations, insisted that agents are acting appropriately in response to resistance from detainees, pointing out that the operation needed to happen as strict local laws had previously hindered immigration enforcement. 'It was time to hit Chicago,' he declared.
