Published: TUESDAY September 23, 2025: 'ICE Operation Midway Blitz' by ZUMA Press represented Chicago Tribune photojournalist's: Brian Cassella, John J. Kim, Eileen T. Meslar, Dominic Di Palermo, Antonio Perez, Armando L. Sanchez, Chris Sweda, E. Jason Wambsgans, Stacey Wescott: Immigration enforcement officials arrested almost 550 people during an operation in the Chicago area that targets undocumented people and is expected to last more than a month. The figures offer an early view of what is becoming as a major enforcement effort after similar operations were launched in LA and DC. ICE launched its Chicago area surge dubbed operation 'Midway Blitz' on September 8th, drawing concern from activists and immigrant communities who say there's been an increase in immigration enforcement agents. That has deepened dread in communities already afraid of the large-scale arrests and aggressive tactics used in other cities targeted by President Trumps hardline immigration policies. Welcome to 'ICE Operation Midway Blitz'
© zReportage.com Issue #1006 Story of the Week: Published: TUESDAY September 23, 2025: 'ICE Operation Midway Blitz' by ZUMA Press represented Chicago Tribune photojournalist's: Brian Cassella, John J. Kim, Eileen T. Meslar, Dominic Di Palermo, Antonio Perez, Armando L. Sanchez, Chris Sweda, E. Jason Wambsgans, Stacey Wescott: Immigration enforcement officials arrested almost 550 people during an operation in the Chicago area that targets undocumented people and is expected to last more than a month. The figures offer an early view of what is becoming as a major enforcement effort after similar operations were launched in LA and DC. ICE launched its Chicago area surge dubbed operation 'Midway Blitz' on September 8th, drawing concern from activists and immigrant communities who say there's been an increase in immigration enforcement agents. That has deepened dread in communities already afraid of the large-scale arrests and aggressive tactics used in other cities targeted by President Trumps hardline immigration policies. Welcome to 'ICE Operation Midway Blitz'
Visibly distressed, several people in handcuffs are escorted by federal agents to white vans parked outside the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the South Loop of Chicago.
© Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Federal agents hold back protesters while removing detainees from a Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago's South Loop.
© Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Federal agents hang off the back of a military-style vehicle as they, along with several other vehicles, drive south along Chippewa Drive in Elgin. Agents broke down doors of a home nearby and detained three people.
© Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS via ZUMA Press Wire
Illinois Reps. DANNY K. DAVIS, JESSE GARCIA, DELIA C. RAMIREZ and JONATHAN JACKSON show their identification to a security camera as they attempt entry into the U.S. Immigration and Enforcement processing center in Broadview, Illinois,. The was told they needed to make a request first with ICE.
© Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Department of Homeland Security Secretary KRISTI NOEM tours a regional HSI facility in Springfield to observe the processing of two Guatemalan nationals.
© E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
High school students gather at Trump Tower in downtown Chicago to protest against increased immigration enforcement in the area.
© Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
CURTIS EVANS, of Evanston, carries a U.S. flag through gas deployed by federal officers as they clear protesters from the entrance of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview. Evans said he was a Marine during President Reagan's term. Protesters and agents clashed outside the Broadview ICE processing center during a 12-hour protest, Friday. Federal agents fired chemical agents at protesters outside the ICE processing facility.
© Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
A protester, who declined to be named, leads other protestors and activists to gather and chant at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois.
© Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Holding a sign that reads 'The Most Dangerous Immigrants Arrived In 1492!' High school students gather at Trump Tower in downtown Chicago to protest against increased immigration enforcement in the area.
© Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Federal agents detain a motorist along Liberty Street in Elgin, Illinois. This man along with two other men were pulled from a red sedan and detained without being shown a warrant. More than half a dozen people were detained Saturday morning.
© Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Federal agents conduct an operation in Elgin, Illinois, near the intersection of Chippewa and Martin drives. Many Chicago and suburban schools are preparing to help students amid increased ICE activity in neighborhoods.
© Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
A federal agent escorts a detainee into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois.
© Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Federal agents watch as detainees arrive at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois.
© Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Community members attend a meeting at Lake Street Church of Evanston in Illinois, with a multi-faith coalition of clergy to support Evanston's proclamation of sanctuary in the face of the Trump administration's plans to deport immigrants.
© E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Chicago Mayor BRANDON JOHNSON signs an executive order titled 'Protecting Chicago,' in response to the possible local deployment of federal military and Department of Homeland Security personnel in the coming days, at City Hall in Chicago.
© John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
CRISTOBAL CAVAZOS, co-founder of Immigrant Solidarity DuPage and Casa DuPage Workers Center, says goodbye to a young boy and his mother residing in the Elm Court Apartments, in Bensenville, Illinois. The community has had numerous ICE raids over the last several months and dozens of people have been detained.
© Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
DORIS HERNANDEZ, left, and Dolores Castaneda longtime community leaders in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, distribute flyers to alert residents of potential immigration raids and the steps they can take to protect themselves.
© Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Following her kindergarten graduation, GABRIELA PINEDA, 6, swings outside her home in Chicago. Pineda's mother, Wendy Sarai Pineda, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on June 4, 2025, and is now in a detention center in Kentucky, awaiting deportation to Honduras.
© Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
People install a memorial for Silverio Villegas Gonzalez in Franklin Park. Villegas Gonzalez was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during a traffic stop.
© Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
ANTONIO CACHO, who is originally from Mexico, thanks Chicago Gov. JB PRITZKER for his work, outside Jumping Bean Cafe in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago.
© Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
A memorial for Silverio Villegas Gonzalez during a vigil in Franklin Park, Illinois. Gonzalez was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during a traffic stop.
© Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Venezuelan migrant brothers JOSE GREGORIO GONZALEZ, left, and ALFREDO PACHECO are reunited in Broadview after Gonzalez was released from ICE custody to donate a kidney to his brother. Pacheco was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure earlier this year.
© Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
JOSE GONZALEZ, a Venezuelan migrant who was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure earlier this year, leaves a clinic after receiving dialysis, in Cicero, Illinois.
© Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
JOAQUIN MARTINEZ of Des Plaines flies an 'Our Lady of Guadalupe' flag after praying the rosary with a prayer group that met during a protest, outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. The group has been meeting at the facility every Friday since 2006 and praying for the immigrants that are held inside. Martinez has been attending for 18 years.
© Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
