Protest With ICE Piñata in Chicago After Immigration Raids

Symbolic protest in Chicago against ICE raids

Arrest after immigration operation

Community demands humanity and justice

During the immigration raids carried out under the so-called Operation Midway Blitz, Tony, a Chicago resident, chose to stage a symbolic protest against what he believes is an atmosphere of fear and dehumanization toward immigrants.

Holding an ICE piñata, he demanded humanity and solidarity with the families of Little Village, a historically Mexican community that has faced increasingly tense immigration operations.

The act took place just three days after an alleged armed attack against federal agents during an immigration operation — an event that heightened tension in the area.

Protest With an ICE Piñata

Anti-ICE protester Tony commissioned a piñata resembling a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent to express his opposition to the agency’s actions pic.twitter.com/j4XSbPp1nt

— Reuters (@Reuters) November 12, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that it has a suspect in custody regarding the incident that occurred on Saturday, November 8, around 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of 26th Street and Kedzie Avenue.

You may also like: Chicago Butcher Shop Owner Denies Service to ICE and Kicks Agents Out of His Store (VIDEO)

According to the statement, federal agents were carrying out an immigration operation when they were “cornered on a street and blocked,” and later “subject to direct gunfire when a man driving a black Jeep Wrangler fired several shots.”

Despite the shooting, no injuries were reported, according to CNN.

DHS did not reveal the detainee’s identity but said he is an undocumented immigrant of Mexican origin.

The agency states the man, who was arrested during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, faces charges for aggravated firearm use, illegal possession, and unlawful entry into the country.

Officials also indicated that additional charges are pending for assaulting federal agents, which they say justifies withholding his name.

Community Reactions and Local Monitoring

Chicago resident makes ICE agent piñata as a form of protest. https://t.co/0Z4SszQgJc

— CNN en Español (@CNNEE) November 12, 2025

The incident has prompted an immediate response from activists and immigrant-rights advocates.

In Little Village, community groups and local organizations have deployed volunteers to monitor the presence of agents and alert residents to new operations.

Meanwhile, DHS told CNN that “these attacks are a consequence of the virulent smears of sanctuary policies and the media,” referring to critical coverage of raids and cooperation programs with immigration authorities.

Tony, like many neighbors, insists that peaceful protest is a way to protect the community’s dignity amid a climate of criminalization and fear.

For him, the protest with an ICE piñata is not only a symbol of cultural resistance but also a reminder that behind every operation there are separated families and children afraid of losing their parents.

Climate of Fear and Resistance

Little Village, known for its vibrant community life and its role as a Mexican enclave in Chicago, has been experiencing days of uncertainty since the start of Operation Midway Blitz.

Although authorities claim the operations target individuals with criminal records, local leaders say the effects ripple across the entire community, where many avoid leaving home or going to work for fear of being detained.

Amid this tension, Tony’s symbolic protest has become an act of visibility — a call to reject the normalization of persecution and to remember that behind every operation are human stories that deserve to be heard.