The Department of Homeland Security launched ICE raids in Chicago on Monday, targeting criminal illegal immigrants under Operation Midway Blitz. “DHS is launching Operation Midway Blitz in honor of Katie Abraham. This operation will target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew @GovPritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them,” the department announced on X.“Operation Midway Blitz: DHS is targeting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because of @GovPritzker’s sanctuary city policies. President Trump and @Sec_Noem will not allow these dangerous individuals to terrorize Illinois citizens any longer.” said DHS in another post.ICE officials had been positioning staff in Chicago for more than a week, with sources indicating a federal immigration operation was imminent.
‘Chipocalypse Now’
Governor Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, expressed outrage over the weekend at Trump’s social media post teasing the raids. The post, titled “Chipocalypse Now,” depicted Trump as a military commander with helicopters, fires, and the Chicago skyline in the background.Also read: ‘Chipocalypse Now’: Trump threatens Chicago with national guard; posts image of city under attack“‘I love the smell of deportations in the morning…’ Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” the Saturday post said, referencing Robert Duvall’s line from Apocalypse Now.
Trump defends ICE raids
Trump indicated Monday that the ICE raids do not signal a broader policing intervention. “We’d love to go into Chicago,” he said in a speech. “We’re waiting for a call from Chicago.”He also criticised city leaders over weekend violence, noting six people were murdered. “This would mean that over the past number of weeks, approximately 50 people were killed, and hundreds were shot, many expected to die,” he wrote on Truth Social.“Governor Pritzker just stated that he doesn’t want Federal Government HELP! WHY??? What is wrong with this guy, and the 5% in Polls Mayor. I want to help the people of Chicago, not hurt them. Only the Criminals will be hurt!”Pritzker responded, “‘I want to help people, not hurt them,’ says the guy who just threatened an American city with the Department of War.” Johnson added, “The President’s threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution.”The ICE operation in Chicago follows Trump’s previous federal interventions in other cities, including Washington, DC, where he federalised the local police and deployed the National Guard and federal agents in August.Trump also deployed federal officers to Chicago in 2020 under Operation Legend, which then-Attorney General Bill Barr said resulted in 500 arrests in five weeks and halved the city’s murder rate.
