Homeland Safety proclaims “Operation Halfway Blitz” amid ICE operations in Chicago

The Division of Homeland Safety mentioned it was shifting ahead with ramped-up immigration enforcement in Chicago this week in an effort dubbed Operation Halfway Blitz.

“This ICE operation will goal the legal unlawful aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois as a result of they knew Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary insurance policies would shield them and permit them to roam free on American Streets,” the division mentioned in an announcement Monday. The division mentioned the mission can be carried out “in honor of Katie Abraham,” who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run crash that occurred in Urbana, about 130 miles south of Chicago, earlier this 12 months.

Spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin mentioned the operation “will goal the worst of the worst legal unlawful aliens in Chicago.”

The division didn’t specify how lengthy the operation is anticipated to final, however a spokesperson with ICE mentioned, in an announcement: “ICE has at all times operated in Chicago, focusing on enforcement across the harmful legal aliens which are drawn to this sanctuary metropolis. … We are going to proceed our regulation enforcement and public security mission, undeterred, as we surge ICE sources within the metropolis in coordination with our federal companions from throughout Division of Homeland Safety and Division of Justice.”

In a submit on X, Gov. JB Pritzker accused the Trump administration of failing to speak or coordinate their immigration enforcement effort with state and native leaders.

“As soon as once more, this is not about combating crime. That requires assist and coordination — but we have skilled nothing like that over the previous a number of weeks. As a substitute of taking steps to work with us on public security, the Trump Administration’s targeted on scaring Illinoisians,” he wrote.

Mayor Brandon Johnson mentioned the town has not obtained any official discover from the Trump administration about its immigration crackdown.

“We’re involved about potential militarized immigration enforcement with out due course of due to ICE’s observe document of detaining and deporting Americans and violating the human rights of a whole bunch of detainees,” Johnson mentioned in an announcement. “There are greater than 500 documented incidents of human rights abuses at detention amenities since Trump took workplace, together with deaths of detainees and alleged instances of sexual abuse of minors by federal immigration brokers. Due to these incidents and extra, we stay against militarized immigration enforcement that runs afoul of the Structure in our metropolis.”

The mayor urged anybody involved in regards to the immigration crackdown in Chicago to go to a “know your rights” useful resource hub on the town’s web site, at Chicago.gov/KYR.

The announcement of the immigration operation in Chicago comes after President Trump, in a submit on Fact Social on Saturday, invoked imagery from the film “Apocalypse Now” and wrote, “‘I really like the scent of deportations within the morning …’ Chicago about to search out out why it is known as the Division of WAR.”

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the highest Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, accused the Trump administration of ramping up its marketing campaign “to arrest hardworking immigrants with no legal convictions.”

“These actions do not make us safer. They’re a waste of cash, stoke worry, and signify one other failed try at a distraction,” Durbin mentioned in an announcement.

Mr. Trump has repeatedly threatened so as to add Chicago to the checklist of different Democratic-led cities he is focused for expanded federal enforcement, together with Los Angeles and Washington. The transfer marks the newest flashpoint in a broader nationwide battle over how far the federal authorities can push native authorities to cooperate with its immigration agenda.

It is a growing story and will probably be up to date.