The Trump administration on Monday announced the launch of a federal immigration operation in Chicago after weeks of teasing a new sanctuary city to target.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is kicking off “Operation Midway Blitz” in the city and across the state of Illinois, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The initiative will target illegal migrants who “flocked” to the region due to the sanctuary laws and policies that have purportedly helped them avoid apprehension from agents. 

“This operation will target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Chicago,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a public statement. “For years, Governor Pritzker and his fellow sanctuary politicians released Tren de Aragua gang members, rapists, kidnappers, and drug traffickers on Chicago’s streets — putting American lives at risk and making Chicago a magnet for criminals.”

“President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message: no city is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens,” McLaughlin continued. “If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return.”

The latest immigration operation is being conducted in honor of Katie Abraham, an American woman who was killed in a drunk driving accident earlier this year, according to DHS.

An illegal migrant from Guatemala allegedly killed Abraham and her friend, Chloe Polzin, in a drunk driving hit-and-run car wreck in January, according to authorities. The Guatemalan national is charged with aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death, reckless homicide and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death.

Federal prosecutors have additionally charged the illegal migrant with possession of a false permanent resident card, possession of a false social security card and false use of a passport.

“DHS is launching Operation Midway Blitz in honor of Katie Abraham who was killed in Illinois by a criminal illegal alien who should have never been in our country,” McLaughlin said of the operation.

The Trump administration — which has successfully conducted large-scale illegal migrant crackdowns in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., — has been preparing to descend on Chicago. In August, DHS requested the nearby Naval Station Great Lakes for limited logistical and infrastructure support to aid immigration operations.

Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, have fiercely resisted the idea of escalated ICE operations taking place on their turf. Johnson, who has repeatedly issued press releases and conducted media appearances speaking out against a crackdown, signed an executive order in on Aug. 30 that seeks to “utilize legal action and legislation” against any immigration or National Guard deployment in Chicago.

“The City of Chicago will do everything in our power to defend our democracy and protect our communities,” Johnson said in a public statement regarding his order. “With this executive order, we send a resounding message to the federal government: we do not need nor want an unconstitutional and illegal military occupation of our city.”

Not all Democrats in the Windy City are opposed to President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown. Democratic Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez criticized both Pritzker and Johnson for rejecting Trump’s assistance with crime.

“I believe … that a lot of this has to do with politics and nothing to do with keeping communities safe … if we are already decreasing our crime stats, why shouldn’t we be pushing to decrease even more?” Lopez said during a Monday media appearance. “And I feel that the governor and the mayor are refusing to accept the president’s help, both in terms of the National Guard as well as with additional federal agency support … because they don’t want to be viewed as capitulating and working with the president.”

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