Federal immigration agents were seen patrolling downtown Chicago on Sunday as the Trump administration intensified its immigration enforcement in major urban areas nationwide.
According to reports, Border Patrol agents were armed and hidden, blending into the environment. ICE confirmed that hundreds of officers were deployed in downtown Chicago as part of the “Midway Blitz” operation, which started on September 8.
As reported by local news, several arrests were made in the northern Kawakawa River area on Sunday morning.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that 11 individuals were arrested outside an ICE detention center in Broadview, Illinois, during a significant protest at the facility.
The announcement also indicated that two guns had been confiscated, and investigations were launched concerning what seemed to be an explosive device found nearby.
This situation has led to significant concern and criticism from the immigrant community and Democratic lawmakers.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker labeled the operations a “fear-inducing show” that negatively impacts local businesses and instills anxiety within the community. He emphasized that the militarization of American cities should not be normalized, urging residents to know their rights and remain alert.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed that residents feel threatened by the presence of armed federal agents who seem to have no clear purpose.
In defense of the actions, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino claimed that many members of the public were supportive of their presence, stating that residents in inner-city Chicago were grateful for their efforts against illegal immigration, which has increased over recent years.
Mayor Johnson previously condemned this aggressive stance, particularly when the Trump administration suggested sending more federal agents to Chicago.
In just the past month, the president had dispatched troops to Washington, D.C., and several other Republican-led states, including Louisiana and Mississippi, have also sent forces to bolster federal presence.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that federal agents would be arriving in Memphis this week after an executive order aimed at enhancing local safety.
On Saturday, the president highlighted the deployment of federal forces to Portland, suggesting Chicago might be next on the list.
Johnson remarked that these actions represent unnecessary provocations from the Trump administration that fail to ensure safety in the city.
