Criticism Over Immigration Operation in Chicago
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing significant backlash from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following his proposal for an immigration operation that involves Border Patrol. According to Johnson, this operation has disrupted what he claimed was the safest summer Chicago has seen in decades.
Johnson has recently emphasized a report indicating that the summer of 2025 was the safest in 60 years in terms of violent crime, with 123 murders reported between June and August. Although the University of Chicago Crime Lab noted a decrease in violent crime throughout 2025, the numbers still remained elevated compared to other major cities globally.
Last week, Johnson affirmed the accuracy of these findings prior to the DHS launching Operation Midway Blitz in early September. He asserted that crime increased in areas where ICE and Border Patrol were actively involved.
He stated, “Until Bovino set foot in our city, Chicago had the safest summer since 1965. Crime increased in areas where ICE was most active.”
In response, Tricia McLaughlin from DHS criticized Johnson’s rhetoric, claiming he was “demonizing” law enforcement amid a significant rise in assaults against agents. She contrasted the challenges faced by law enforcement in Chicago with those in jurisdictions like Florida, arguing that the violence they experience is far greater.
McLaughlin urged Johnson to collaborate with DHS to combat violence from gang members and other criminals, pointing out that more than 4,500 illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds were apprehended during Operation Midway Blitz.
Johnson defended his approach, suggesting that his administration had effectively reduced violence in the city regardless of ICE’s presence. He highlighted a particular case involving a man, Silverio Gonzalez, who was shot and killed by agents last year, stating that ICE claims indicated he had resisted arrest.
Representative Jesus Garcia (D-Ill.), representing the area, has since called for a federal investigation into Gonzalez’s death.
Responding to comments from Bovino, Johnson referred to crime statistics from 1965 and 2025, while later expressing his stance against ICE on social media, reiterating his call to “abolish ICE.”
