Border Patrol Raids in Chicago Sweep Up Families Amid Intensified Crackdown
U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted a late-night raid on an apartment building in Chicago this week, targeting alleged gang members but also detaining U.S. citizens and families, residents said. The operation, part of the Trump administration’s heightened immigration enforcement in Democratic-led cities, involved agents rappelling from helicopters and forcibly entering homes.
Naudelys, a 19-year-old Venezuelan woman, said she was at home with her 4-year-old son and another family when agents broke down her door. She claimed agents made offensive remarks and pointed guns at residents. Some children were temporarily taken from their parents, according to residents and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statements.
DHS confirmed the raid focused on alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, carried out in partnership with the FBI and ATF. Authorities said 37 people were arrested, mostly Venezuelans, and six had prior criminal records. Two arrests involved alleged gang members.
The agency said the operation was lawful and that children taken were placed in protective care until guardianship could be arranged. Residents reported property damage, missing belongings, and traumatic experiences for children.
Experts warn that deploying Border Patrol agents in urban settings differs from traditional border operations and could harm trust between communities and law enforcement.
The raid is part of “Operation Midway Blitz,” a broader enforcement initiative in Chicago. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the deployment as authoritarian, criticizing the public display of armed agents in residential areas.
Residents expressed fear and shock, describing the aggressive tactics and the impact on children and families, while authorities maintain the measures target gang activity and immigration violations.
