❓WHAT HAPPENED: Border Patrol agents and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are conducting an immigration crackdown operation in downtown Chicago, and taking on violent and in some cases armed far-left rioters.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Border Patrol agents, ICE officers, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D), Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), illegal immigrants, and far-left agitators.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The operation, named “Midway Blitz,” began on September 8 and included activity in downtown Chicago, including the River North neighborhood on Sunday morning.
💬KEY QUOTE: “I would say the majority are actually glad we’re here. They are congratulating us, saying, ‘It’s about time you’re here.’ Especially those inner-city residents here in Chicago are very glad we’re here.” – Gregory Bovino, Border Patrol Commander-at-Large
🎯IMPACT: The enforcement action has attracted significant demonstrations by violent, far-left protesters and rioters—especially around the ICE detention facility in Broadview, a western suburb of Chicago.
President Donald J. Trump’s “Midway Blitz” immigration enforcement action is pressing on in Chicago, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents making numerous arrests since the operation began on September 8. The enforcement action has drawn significant counter-protests by violent, far-left demonstrators—especially around the ICE detention facility in Broadview, a western suburb of Chicago.
“[Eleven] violent rioters were arrested last night in Chicago outside the ICE detention facility: These are two guns that were taken off rioters in Chicago right against the fence at our ICE detention facility,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wrote in post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday. “An investigation is underway into what appears to be some sort of explosive device found last night near the ICE Chicago detention facility.”
ARRESTS ARE BEING MADE:
11 violent rioters were arrested last night in Chicago outside the ICE detention facility:
These are two guns that were taken off rioters in Chicago right against the fence at our ICE detention facility.
An investigation is underway into what appears… pic.twitter.com/pLPfSIcA4p
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 28, 2025
Last Friday in Broadview, far-left activists —wearing gas masks and bandanas to obscure their faces—swarmed a DHS vehicle and attempted to block ICE agents from exiting the detention facility. In the latter case, a federal law enforcement agent fired tear gas to disperse them.
Despite the violent demonstrations, Illinois Democrats are, by and large, defending the anti-ICE political violence. Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) has led the Democrat attacks, writing in a post on X, “The Trump Administration’s DHS officers appear to be carrying large weapons around downtown Chicago in camouflage and masks. This is not making anybody safer—it’s a show of intimidation, instilling fear in our communities and hurting our businesses. We cannot normalize militarizing American cities and suburbs. Make sure you know your rights and stay alert.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) has also stoked anti-ICE sentiment, stating that residents “are being intimidated and threatened by masked federal agents flaunting automatic weapons for no apparent reason.”
However, Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino has pushed back against Johnson’s claims, stating, “I would say the majority are actually glad we’re here. They are congratulating us, saying, ‘It’s about time you’re here.’ Especially those inner-city residents here in Chicago are very glad we’re here, because oftentimes they’re up against that vast illegal migration that took place over the past four years. They’re the ones dealing with the violence perpetrated by illegal aliens.”
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