Reps. García, Ramirez, Quigley, Jackson, Local Elected Officials and Immigration Advocates Call for Full Accountability for DHS Brutality and Meaningful Immigration Reform

September 9, 2026 Press Release One year after Operation Midway Blitz was unleashed, Chicagoland is stronger and more united than ever. CHICAGO — Today, Congressmembers Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), joined by a coalition of local elected officials including State Senator Celina Villanueva, State Representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr, Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya, Alderperson Michael Rodriguez, Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, and immigration advocacy organizations, including Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC), Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD)  and The Resurrection Project (TRP), held a press conference to mark one year of resistance to Operation Midway Blitz. The coalition called for action on immigration reform, including by forcing a vote on the Dream and Promise Act, and demanded full accountability from local and federal authorities, including the Cook County State’s Attorney, for the brutality and terror inflicted by the federal government’s immigration enforcement actions on communities throughout the region. “A year ago, the Trump administration tried to break us and take away our dignity by sending masked federal agents into our city through Operation Midway Blitz. They failed, and instead our community came together, stood up and challenged their abuse of power,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García. “One year later, we are more united than ever. But the fight is not over. Masked federal agents continue to operate in our neighborhoods, and we will keep demanding that they leave and that those responsible for their crimes be held accountable. Most importantly, we will continue fighting for meaningful immigration reform so that no community has to endure the failures of our broken immigration system again.” "We are commemorating the one-year anniversary of Midway Blitz, when the Department of Homeland Security began a campaign of terror in Chicago. Those of us who lived through its terror are clear: DHS REMAINS the biggest threat to our collective safety," said Congresswoman Delia Ramirez. "As we regain the majority next year, our grief, our anger, and our calls for justice must move us to action that honors all those stolen from us by DHS, by holding EVERY fascist who has permitted and profited from DHS’s violence accountable, by abolishing ICE, and by dismantling DHS." "Donald Trump's Operation Midway Blitz had one goal and one goal only: to terrorize Chicago. ICE and CBP agents didn't go after the worst of the worst, they kidnapped people off the streets, tear gassed elementary schools, and killed a father of two," said Congressman Mike Quigley . "Unfortunately, the horror of Trump's immigration policies didn't end with Operation Midway Blitz. Just last month, I attended a deportation hearing where I saw children in court without their parents, facing a language barrier, and being asked to explain why they deserve to stay in this country. This cruelty must be stopped. I'm more committed than ever to working with my colleagues and advocates to protect our immigrant neighbors and stop Trump’s DHS in its tracks before they can do any more harm." “One year after Operation Midway Blitz, we remember the harm caused by this authoritarian operation, but we also honor the faith leaders, community organizers, attorneys, educators, and ordinary Chicagoans who stepped up to protect their neighbors and defend the values that make our city strong,” said Congressman Jonathan Jackson. “I will continue to demand accountability for the abuses inflicted on immigrants and our communities. I stand with my Congressional colleagues in renewing our call for comprehensive immigration reform rooted in the fundamental belief that every person deserves dignity, equity, and due process.” “This week marks the one-year anniversary of Operation Midway Blitz, and Chicago residents are still reeling from the horrors our communities have been forced to face, as masked officers continue to wreak havoc across our city by taking countless residents into custody and dismantling families left and right,” said State Senator Celina Villanueva. “Since the operation was launched last September, Latino communities, especially those I represent, have lived in constant fear – afraid of leaving their homes and sending their children to school. After a year of brutalizing protestors, patrolling city streets, raiding our neighborhoods and harming our residents, it is far beyond time to demand accountability and justice from this administration, not only for Latino Illinoisans but also for everyone who has been impacted by these senseless acts of hate.” “Operation Midway Blitz did not break our community, it strengthened our resolve. For a year, our immigrant families, neighbors, and community organizations have stood together against fear and intimidation. We will continue to defend every family and protect the welcoming spirit that defines our community,” said 22 Ward Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez. “Whether it be the apartment raids in South Shore, the shooting of Marimar Martinez in Brighton Park, or the murder of Silverio Villegas González, it’s been proven that ICE does NOT keep us safe - they are designed to intimidate communities of color and deport as many people as possible…Local leaders and politicians must stand with immigrants and enforce the laws and policies our communities fought for to make Illinois a welcoming place for all, said Lawrence Benitio, Executive Director, ICIRR. “Operation Midway Blitz isn’t over - we’re still reeling from the impact of thousands of neighbors being stripped from our community. Families separated. Jobs lost. Communities destabilized. Yet, through it all, our community keeps showing up and fighting back. We refuse to let this terror be normalized,” said Any Huamami, Director of Organizing, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council. “On this day, last year our communities were being terrorized by masked agents, kidnapped without explanation, and families have been forcibly broken by this federal administration’s immigration enforcement campaign. Last year showed us we were all at risk of being detained only based on what we look like. Unlawful arrests became the norm, but we are still here exposing those actions and reminding people that ICE is still in our communities. It is our duty to continue to be vigilant and protect each other,” said Antonio Gutierrez, Co-Founder and Strategic Coordinator, Organized Communities Against Deportations. “Chicago's Northwest Side was one of the concentration points for Operation Midway Blitz. Local community members came together to fight back against this attack on our community as part of the statewide network of rapid responders anchored by ICIRR. Our work did not end when Midway Blitz concluded. We continue to see daily ICE abductions and assaults in our neighborhoods to this day. Community members will continue doing their part to keep us safe. It is now long overdue for police departments locally to do their job, and investigate the actions of these agents, so we can hold them to account. It's the least that our community members and neighbors who were tear gassed, pepper sprayed and faced assault and aggression from the federal government deserve,” said Pastor Juan Pablo Herrera, Board President, PLSNA. “The fear that swept through our communities is real, but this year wasn’t defined by fear, but by the beauty and resilience of our community. The Trump administration set out to make an example of Chicago. Instead, we led by example—building a statewide coordinated response that has connected tens of thousands of community members to legal support, and a rapid response network that shows that immigrants across Illinois never stand alone, said Eréndira Rendón, Vice President of Immigrant Justice, The Resurrection Project. Read an op-ed by  Congressman García about Operation Midway Blitz, HERE. ### Issues : Chicago Civil Rights and Women’s Issues Criminal Justice Reform and Gun Safety Immigration Judiciary Issues/Oversight