ICE Launches Major Crackdown in Chicago Under “Operation Midway Blitz”

Chicago, Sept. 9, 2025 - Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began Operation Midway Blitz across Chicago today, detaining dozens of suspected undocumented workers in a citywide sweep that has drawn international attention and prompted South Korea to prepare a repatriation flight.

The unprecedented workplace raids, part of the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement push, targeted food processing plants and factories in Chicago’s suburbs, resulting in at least 50 arrests. The timing of the operation, following relaxed sanctuary-city policies, has reignited debates over federal-local cooperation and immigrant rights.

Nut Graf

The ICE operation underscores the administration’s focus on cracking down on noncriminal undocumented migrants under new policies that broaden mandatory detention. Local officials and advocacy groups warn the raids will fracture families and strain community resources, while allied governments, notably South Korea, scramble to assist nationals caught in the dragnet.

Sweeps at Multiple Facilities

  • ICE agents fanned out before dawn to several plants in Cato and Fulton, rounding up workers suspected of lacking valid immigration status.
  • Governor J.B. Pritzker condemned the raids as “uncoordinated and harmful,” saying families will return home to empty houses.
  • Plant owners claim all employees were vetted and held proper work permits, calling the enforcement “excessive.”

International Response

  • South Korea’s foreign ministry announced plans to dispatch a chartered Korean Air flight from Atlanta by midweek to repatriate up to 300 detained nationals.
  • Korean officials protested that many detainees held valid work visas, accusing ICE of ignoring documentation.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld regulations permitting “roving” ICE raids without local warrants, clearing the way for broader enforcement in sanctuary jurisdictions. Supporters hail the ruling as vital to national security, while critics argue it undermines constitutional protections and local autonomy.

Community Impact and Reactions

Local immigrant rights groups staged protests outside detention centers, demanding bond hearings for those arrested. Legal aid organizations warned of limited access to counsel, citing recent policy changes that restrict bond eligibility for many detainees.

What’s Next

With federal-state tensions rising, Chicago officials are exploring legal challenges to the Supreme Court decision and seeking emergency funding for social services. Meanwhile, families of detainees scramble to secure attorneys and arrange childcare as children prepare to return to school without parents.

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