Chicago federal intervention: Tracking surge in immigration enforcement operations | Updates

DHS announces "Operation Midway Blitz" in Chicago; Trump federalizing Illinois National Guard

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Last updated: Friday, October 24, 2025 4:15PM GMT
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CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago area is seeing an increase in federal immigration enforcement.

President Donald Trump says the surge in immigration enforcement activity in the Chicago area is about getting dangerous criminals off the streets.

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Some 300 federal agents are using North Chicago's Naval Station Great Lakes as the logistical hub for ramped-up operations.

Protesters and federal agents have continued to clash outside an ICE Processing Center in Broadview, Illinois.

ABC7 is tracking the latest news in the city and suburbs. Here are the latest developments.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 05, 2025, 10:11 PM GMT

Woman shot by CBP agent among 2 charged in alleged Brighton Park vehicle ramming, prosecutors says

A woman who was shot by a federal agent on Chicago's Southwest Side on Saturday morning is among two people facing charges in the alleged vehicle-ramming incident that happened moments before shots were fired, according to federal prosecutors.

Marimar Martinez, 30, and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, 21, allegedly used their vehicles to strike another car, with three U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents inside, near West 39th Street and South Kedzie Avenue in Brighton Park.

Prosecutors said Martinez and Ruiz then used their vehicles to box in the agents' car. The Department of Homeland Security said on Saturday that 10 vehicles boxed the agents in.

Unable to move his vehicle, the CPB agent who was driving got out of the car and fired about five shots at Martinez with his service weapon.

Martinez, who DHS says was armed with a semi-automatic weapon, drove off, but paramedics found her at a repair shop about 1 mile away from the scene. An ambulance took her to a hospital, where her gunshot wounds were treated.

Ruiz also drove away, but law enforcement officers located him and his vehicle at a gas station about a half-block away, the prosecutors said.

Martinez and Ruiz, both of Chicago, are in custody, charged with assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal law enforcement officer.

Several federal agents were also hurt and taken to the hospital.

DHS also said Martinez was named in a CBP intelligence bulletin last week for allegedly doxxing agents online. Click here for more.

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Oct 05, 2025, 1:02 AM GMT

Trump deploying 300 National Guard members in Illinois, White House confirms

The White House confirmed Saturday evening that President Donald Trump has "authorized 300 national guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets" amid ongoing ICE raids in the Chicago area.

Gov. JB Pritzker said earlier Saturday the Department of War gave him an ultimatum, telling him to call up the troops himself.

"This morning, the Trump Administration's Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will," Pritzker said, in part. He said the administration intends to federalize hundreds of National Guard troops "in the coming hours."

A White House spokesperson shared a statement with ABC7 Chicago Saturday night, saying, "Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has authorized 300 national guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets. President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities."

Oct 04, 2025, 6:43 PM GMT

Armed woman injured in Brighton Park shooting involving federal agents, DHS says

A woman was injured in a shooting involving federal agents on Chicago's Southwest Side on Saturday morning, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

DHS said its officers were patrolling in the area of 39th Street and South Kedzie Avenue in the city's Brighton Park neighborhood when they were rammed by vehicles and "boxed in" by 10 vehicles.

One of the drivers involved in the car-ramming was armed with a semi-automatic weapon, DHS said, and officers fired "defensive shots."

The allegedly armed woman, a U.S. citizen, was injured and took herself to the hospital for treatment, DHS said.

DHS also said the woman is accused of doxing agents and using vulgar language toward them online.

No officers were injured.

"Pritzker's Chicago Police Department is leaving the shooting scene and refuses to assist us in securing the area. There is a growing crowd and we are deploying special operations to control the scene," DHS said. Click here for more.

Oct 04, 2025, 6:16 PM GMT

Trump administration seeking to federalize 300 Illinois National Guard members, Pritzker says

The Trump administration is looking to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard, Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement on Saturday.

Pritzker said the Department of War gave him an ultimatum, telling him to call up the troops himself.

"This morning, the Trump Administration's Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will," Pritzker said, in part. He said the administration intends to federalize hundreds of National Guard troops "in the coming hours." Click here for more.