City mayor states that no prior notification was given by Homeland Security regarding "Operation Midway Blitz" unveiling.

In the heart of Chicago, a controversial immigration enforcement operation named Operation Midway Blitz has been launched by the Department of Homeland Security. The operation, targeting criminal illegal aliens, has been met with opposition from city officials, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has expressed concern about potential militarized immigration enforcement without due process.

The operation, said to be in honor of Katie Abraham, a young woman who was tragically killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run crash, has been the subject of much debate. However, it has also faced criticism for its potential human rights abuses, with more than 500 documented incidents of such abuses at detention facilities since President Trump took office.

The driver of the crash, Julio Cucul Bol, a citizen of Guatemala, was caught in Texas days after the incident and is now in custody in Illinois. Governor JB Pritzker has accused the Trump administration of failing to communicate or coordinate their immigration enforcement effort with state and local leaders.

Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson are not alone in their opposition. Sen. Durbin of Illinois has criticized the actions, stating that they don't make the country safer and are a waste of money. President Trump, on the other hand, has invoked imagery from the movie "Apocalypse Now" on Truth Social, writing, "'I love the smell of deportations in the morning ...' Chicago about to find out why it's called the Department of WAR."

The poll responses are heavily skewed by party, with a majority of Republicans in favor of the deployment of the National Guard and the majority of Democrats opposed. A new poll shows that 58% of Americans oppose the president sending the National Guard to other cities beyond Washington, D.C., while 42% support it.

Amidst the controversy, Tara Molina, a general assignment reporter for our2 Chicago, is on the ground, covering the developments. The exact start date of the operation is unclear, but media reports suggest that some arrests have already begun since Sunday before the official announcement in September 2025.

Chicago residents concerned about the immigration crackdown are urged to visit a "know your rights" resource hub on the city's website, at Chicago.gov/KYR. The father of Katie Abraham, the woman whose death the operation is said to honor, has expressed hope that no other family would have to go through the same ordeal.

As the operation unfolds, the city of Chicago and the nation watch, awaiting the outcome of Operation Midway Blitz.

City mayor states that no prior notification was given by Homeland Security regarding "Operation Midway Blitz" unveiling.