Federal Operation in Chicago Leads to Over 1,000 Arrests of Undocumented Immigrants
Posted on 10/06/25 at 15:08
- More than 1,000 immigrant arrests in Chicago
- Federal operation in Illinois
- ICE leads massive raids
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday the arrest of over 1,000 undocumented immigrants in Illinois as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a campaign targeting individuals with criminal backgrounds who benefited from the state’s sanctuary policies.
The action was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol, according to Fox News.
It began on September 8 in honor of Katie Abraham, a woman killed in Illinois by a drunk driver identified as undocumented immigrant Julio Cucul-Bol.
According to the DHS statement, the goal of the operation was to “remove the worst of the worst” from the streets of Chicago and other communities across the state.
Operation Midway Blitz in Illinois Results in Over 1,000 Arrests
SANCTUARY SIEGE: More than 1,000 illegal aliens were arrested in Illinois during Operation Midway Blitz — a DHS-led crackdown on those who sought refuge under the state’s sanctuary policies. pic.twitter.com/4AzSYF7yNi
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 4, 2025
Deputy Secretary of the DHS, Tricia McLaughlin, reported that more than 1,000 individuals with prior convictions for serious crimes were arrested during the operation, including offenses such as pedophilia, child abuse, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
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Among those detained, authorities highlighted Rafael Alberto Tolentino Martínez, a Mexican national convicted of aggravated domestic assault against a three-year-old child.
Another cited case was Pedro Avendaño Andrés, also from Mexico, arrested for aggravated assault and child endangerment.
ICE Highlights Criminals Arrested in Illinois During the Operation
ICE has released a list of fuigitive criminal illegals currently being protected by the sanctuary state of Illinois as DHS launches Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. The list includes known members of Tren de Aragua, Latin Kings, and the Two Six gang with a list of charges… pic.twitter.com/eX7ALZ3D3S
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 8, 2025
The DHS also mentioned Aziz Kamal, a legal permanent resident considered deportable, accused of second-degree rape and failure to register as a sex offender.
Additionally, Marco Gerónimo Ocampo, a Mexican national with a record of armed robbery, kidnapping, and forcible sexual assault, was detained.
Isaac Josué Rodríguez Argüelles, who had prior charges of assault with a weapon, was also among those arrested.
Protests and Tensions in Broadview
On Friday morning, more than a dozen protesters were arrested outside an ICE processing center in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago.
During the operation, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reported that she and her team were denied access to a government building in Broadview when they attempted to use the restroom.
The DHS described Operation Midway Blitz as a decisive step to strengthen security in Illinois, while pro-immigrant groups condemned the raids, saying they have deepened fear within Latino communities.
