DHS announces "Operation Midway Blitz" in Chicago; Trump federalizing Illinois National Guard
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.
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.
Oak Park officials said Monday that Township Trustee Juan Muñoz was detained and released without charge Saturday.
"Our community values fairness, compassion, and justice," Trustee Muñoz said. "We will continue to stand for those values and call for oversight of any agency that violates them."
Mayor Katrina Thompson announced an executive order Monday setting fixed protest hours near the facility.
The order is effective immediately, and sets hours at the detention center, located at 1930 Beach St. and the adjacent designated protest area at 2000 S. 25th Ave. between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.
"People have to go to work, they have to get their children ready for school, our businesses have to serve their customers, and our residents with developmental disabilities, who have sensory issues, have suffered emotional meltdowns because of the chaotic environment when protests get disruptive," Thompson said in a statement.
Thompson said around 8 p.m. Saturday, 25th Avenue needed to be closed due to protesters who tried to take over Interstate 290, as well.
"I have repeatedly said that I intend to defend the protesters' constitutionally protected free speech rights. I support their cause. But the repeated clashes with ICE agents in our town are causing enormous disruptions in the quality of life for my residents whose rights I have taken an oath to protect. We live here. Our residents live here and deserve dignity and respect," Thompson said.
Chicago journalists and unions have sued U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, alleging the federal government has used "extreme force" against reporters and TV crews during protests in Broadview.
The groups suing include NABET Local 41, which represents members of ABC7 Chicago and other local TV stations.
There have been multiple incidents where ABC7's teams have been affected by the use of tear gas and pepper spray balls fired into crowds.
Neither ICE nor DHS immediately responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
On Monday, Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order to prohibit "federal immigration authorities from using City-owned or controlled parking lots, vacant lots, and garages as staging areas, processing locations, or operations bases for civil immigration enforcement activities."
The mayor's office said in the order it would also distribute free official signage that private landowners can post on their property.
"The signage clearly states that no law enforcement official may enter for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement and that the property may not be used as a staging area, processing location, or operations base," a spokesperson for the mayor said in a release.
Particiaption of placing signs up is voluntary, the mayor's office said.
The order states that city departments must identify city properties that have been or could be used by immigration enforcement; post signage, use physical barriers ,such as locked gates, to restrict unauthorized access; immediately report any use of city property.
The executive order "does not limit or restrict the execution of lawful judicial warrants or legitimate criminal investigations. It applies only to civil immigration enforcement."
