Federal immigration and law-enforcement agents on Sept. 9, 2025, conducted targeted arrests in Chicago’s Lawndale neighborhood as part of a new Department of Homeland Security initiative called “Operation Midway Blitz.” ICE and ATF agents arrested three men they identified as suspected gang members amid the opening actions of a 30-day enforcement surge across the Chicago area. Officials say the operation is focused on criminal noncitizens and potential weapons trafficking tied to the Tren de Aragua (TdA) network. The initial arrests follow public statements tying the surge to a high-profile fatality and were met with concern from local leaders about community impact.
Key Takeaways
- Operation Midway Blitz began operations in Chicago on Sept. 9, 2025, as part of a 30-day DHS-directed enforcement surge.
- ICE and ATF agents arrested three men in the Lawndale neighborhood; authorities characterize them as suspected gang members.
- ATF said its investigation identified about 30 suspected Tren de Aragua (TdA) members allegedly selling firearms in the Chicagoland area.
- DHS tied the operation publicly to the killing of Katie Abraham, saying the surge honors her memory.
- Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker warned the operation is generating fear in communities with mixed-status households.
- ICE Acting ERO director Marco Charles described the focus as violent and serious offenders, from homicide to child sexual offenses.
- Federal officials say the action follows a directive to increase federal law-enforcement presence in Chicago announced Sept. 8–9, 2025.
Background
Department of Homeland Security announced a concentrated, 30-day enforcement effort in Chicago days after officials said a federal directive would increase federal law-enforcement activity in the city. DHS framed the operation as aimed at noncitizens suspected of serious criminal conduct, citing both public safety and the recent homicide of Katie Abraham. Historically, large-scale immigration enforcement operations have prompted debates about public-safety benefits versus community trust and reporting to police.
Chicago has long faced organized gang activity and firearms trafficking challenges; federal agencies including ICE and ATF have cooperated previously on multiagency investigations. Tren de Aragua, a criminal group that U.S. authorities have flagged in other investigations, has been associated in statements with cross-border criminal networks and alleged weapons flows. Local officials and immigrant-rights advocates routinely express concern that aggressive enforcement can deter witnesses and victims from cooperating with law enforcement.
Main Event
On Sept. 9, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and ATF executed coordinated arrests in Lawndale that resulted in three detentions. Officials said the three men are suspected gang members; ICE described the initiative as targeting a broad spectrum of criminal activity among noncitizens, with emphasis on those accused of particularly violent crimes. ATF described a parallel probe into possible gun trafficking connected to the Tren de Aragua network and said its crime gun intelligence center flagged suspects selling firearms in the region.
Acting ERO Director Marco Charles told ABC News that the operation will prioritize what he termed “heinous criminals,” citing offenses from homicide to child sexual abuse as examples of cases the agency intends to remove. ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Maniff said the agency’s intelligence-sharing partnership identified roughly 30 suspected TdA members allegedly involved in firearms sales across Chicagoland, prompting law-enforcement steps during the opening days of the surge.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement framing the operation as being launched in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed in Illinois. The operation was announced by DHS the day before the Lawndale actions and is set to run for 30 days. Images accompanying official statements showed federal vehicles near Cook County facilities following an announcement of increased federal presence.
Analysis & Implications
The operation signals an intensified federal posture in a major metropolitan area that already hosts sustained local and state efforts to curb violence. By emphasizing prosecution or removal of noncitizens accused of violent crimes, DHS and ICE are pursuing a targeted rationale, but the approach may strain local relationships with immigrant communities, potentially reducing cooperation with law enforcement on unrelated cases. Governor J.B. Pritzker’s comments underline the political and social friction that such federal surges can create in cities with many mixed-status households.
Operationally, pairing ICE with ATF links immigration enforcement to weapons-trafficking investigations, which can yield arrests based on criminal statutes rather than immigration violations alone. If ATF’s assessment that about 30 suspected TdA members were selling firearms is borne out in court filings, prosecutors could pursue weapons charges that carry substantial penalties independent of immigration status. Such criminal prosecutions may provide a different legal pathway than administrative immigration removals.
Politically, the operation arrives in a charged national context: federal authorities publicly tied the surge to the killing of Katie Abraham and referenced a recent presidential directive authorizing increased federal presence. That framing may reinforce calls from some officials for harsher enforcement, while civil-rights groups and local leaders are likely to press for safeguards to reduce unintended harm to non-targeted residents. Over the 30-day window, outcomes—numbers charged, prosecutions, removals, and community reporting patterns—will shape whether the operation is judged effective or counterproductive.
Comparison & Data
| Measure | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Operation length | 30 days |
| Arrests reported (first day) | 3 |
| TdA suspected members identified (ATF) | ~30 |
The table summarizes figures released by federal officials: a 30-day enforcement period, three arrests on the operation’s first day, and ATF’s identification of about 30 suspected TdA members allegedly involved in firearms sales. These numbers reflect agency statements and will be further validated through charging documents, court records, or subsequent agency updates.
Reactions & Quotes
Federal officials framed the operation as a focused response to violent crime among noncitizens.
“We’re talking anywhere from the most egregious child sex offender to homicide, burglary, assault, domestic violence…the ones we’re going to primarily focus on are going to be our heinous criminals.”
Marco Charles, Acting Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations
ATF emphasized its intelligence role in identifying suspects tied to alleged firearms sales.
“This investigation started through our crime gun intelligence center with our 15 partner agencies…we identified 30 TdA suspected gang members that were selling firearms in the Chicagoland area.”
Jonathan Maniff, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, ATF
State leadership expressed concern about community impact and fear in neighborhoods with mixed-status families.
“People are frankly afraid in our communities. They’re afraid to come out of their homes…they are afraid to take their own children to school because they have mixed-status households.”
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker
Unconfirmed
- Whether the three men arrested on Sept. 9 will be charged with specific criminal offenses or only face immigration proceedings has not been confirmed by court filings as of this report.
- ATF’s identification of roughly 30 suspected TdA members selling firearms is based on agency statements; detailed evidence and formal indictments have not been published publicly.
- DHS’s invocation of Katie Abraham in announcing the operation connects the surge to that homicide; independent verification tying specific suspects in her killing to illegal immigration status is not provided here.
Bottom Line
Operation Midway Blitz marks a concentrated federal effort to remove or prosecute noncitizens accused of serious crimes in the Chicago area. The first-day arrests and ATF’s statements on alleged TdA-linked firearms sales highlight a combined immigration and weapons-trafficking focus.
How the operation affects public safety and community trust will depend on the mix of criminal prosecutions, immigration removals, and the degree to which local residents—especially in mixed-status households—feel comfortable reporting crimes and cooperating with investigations. Over the 30-day period, transparent release of charging documents and court outcomes will be key to assessing whether the stated public-safety goals are met without undue collateral harm.
Sources
- ABC News (news reporting on DHS/ICE/ATF statements, Sept. 9, 2025)