Chicago City Wire

U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said drone footage showed anti-law enforcement protestors “obstructing the duties” of the agency’s federal officers.

“ICE drone footage shows anti-ICE protestors obstructing the duties of our officers and agents during Operation Midway Blitz last week in Chicago,” ICE posted on X. “ While personnel tried to protect federal property, one agitator who made headlines last week because of his superhero apparel can be seen picking up a tear gas canister and throwing it toward our officers.”

“He was arrested and charged,” said the ICE account.

Operation Midway Blitz is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiative led by ICE and U.S. Border Patrol that began September 8. The operation has resulted in more than 800 arrests across Illinois, focusing on what officials described as the “worst of the worst” offenders.

Operation Midway Blitz was launched in honor of Katie Abraham, a 20-year-old Illinois woman killed in a drunk-driving hit-and-run caused by criminal illegal alien Julio Cucul-Bol. Abraham and her friend, Chloe Polzin, died in Urbana after Cucul-Bol struck their vehicle and fled. He was later arrested near Dallas while attempting to flee to Mexico and charged with multiple crimes including aggravated DUI causing death, reckless homicide, and identity fraud, reported ABC7 Chicago. DHS officials said Abraham’s death was a reminder of the risks posed by sanctuary policies and designated the operation in her memory, according to DHS.

“During Operation Midway Blitz, DHS law enforcement has made more than 800 arrests across Illinois,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “The Trump Administration will not allow violent criminals or repeat offenders to terrorize our neighborhoods or victimize our children and innocent Americans.”

Federal officials said the operation will continue in Chicago and surrounding communities as part of ongoing enforcement against criminal illegal aliens.

The announcement of the drone footage came the same day that Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs, said immigration enforcement officers on patrol near Broadview, Ill. were rammed and boxed in by 10 cars before firing on an armed individual.

“Agents were unable to move their vehicles and exited the car,” McLaughlin posted on X. “One of the drivers who rammed the law enforcement vehicle was armed with a semi-automatic weapon. Law enforcement was forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed U.S. citizen who drove herself to the hospital to get care for wounds.” She added that no immigration enforcement officers were seriously injured.

McLaughlin said the Chicago Police Department “is leaving the shooting scene and refuses to assist us in securing the area,” as a crowd gathered and the DHS deployed special operations teams to stabilize the situation.

The incident comes amid rising tensions at the Broadview ICE facility, where officers in riot gear and gas masks have been deployed to control demonstrations, reported NBC Chicago.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-Ill.) fanned the flames, saying yesterday morning that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, “doesn’t even deserve to set foot in this state,” reported CBS News Chicago.

In an X post earlier today, Pritzker said, “ICE is running around Chicago harassing people for not being white.”

Dan Proft, hosted of Chicago’s Morning Answer on AM 560, said the attacks reflect a broader failure of state leadership. 

“Pritzker is every bit the race-hustling, defund-the-police demagogue as the most virulent pro-violence Leftists for whom he provides political cover,” Proft posted on X.

Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, tied the violence back to the earlier Noem incident. 

“This is what lawlessness under J.B. Pritzker and Brandon Johnson looks like,” Cortes said. “Days after federal agents arrested illegal alien murderers and rapists in Chicago, Secretary Noem is blocked from a public building. That’s contempt for law enforcement and contempt for the American people.”