Federal immigration agents have continued to arrest immigrants in the Chicago area, sometimes at courthouses, despite the end of Operation Midway Blitz and local efforts to limit such actions. According to an April 22 report, recent weeks have seen an uptick in arrests and sightings of federal agents near city and suburban court buildings.
The issue has raised concerns among advocates and officials who say these tactics could deter immigrants from attending court hearings or accessing due process. Illinois passed the Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act last December to ban civil immigration arrests by federal agents in state courthouses. However, since early April, there have been at least seven incidents where agents entered Cook County courthouses or used courthouse property for arrests.
Matthew Hendrickson, spokesperson for the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, said: “Our courts cannot properly administer justice if people are afraid to attend hearings, as they are required to do by law, because they risk abduction by federal agents on unrelated civil matters.” Evelyn Vargas from Organized Communities Against Deportations noted that some areas like Cicero are again seeing daily reports of immigrant arrests.
Federal authorities defend their approach. In a statement from the Department of Homeland Security: “The ability of law enforcement to make arrests of criminal illegal aliens in courthouses is common sense… It conserves valuable law enforcement resources because they already know where a target will be. It is also safer for our officers and the community.”
Local organizers say recent enforcement appears more targeted than during Operation Midway Blitz last fall when agents aggressively patrolled neighborhoods with large immigrant populations and made random stops on streets. During that operation—now ended—federal personnel reportedly used weapons during encounters with civilians.
Meanwhile, families affected by these detentions continue seeking support through mutual aid networks and legal assistance. As tactics evolve and some individuals are detained while attending routine check-ins or hearings related to their cases, advocates urge communities to remain vigilant about ICE activity and provide resources for those impacted.
