Photo via Octavio Jones/Getty Images
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In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has sent ICE and the National Guard to conduct a series of raids in Chicago. Videos and news articles of individuals being taken by ICE without due process, as they are simply going about their day, have flooded social media. From suspicious-looking vans to U-Haul trucks, ICE has made it its mission to take anyone they deem “illegal” despite claiming to be focused on catching the “worst criminals.” Protests have taken place all over the city as well, some peaceful, but others escalating. This wave of enforcement has created a climate of fear, uncertainty, and outrage, particularly within immigrant communities who already live under threat of deportation. What was once a distant worry has now become a daily reality for many families, disrupting lives, livelihoods, and the sense of safety in their own neighborhoods. As tensions rise, the raids have sparked a nationwide debate about the boundaries of state power, human rights, and a reflection on the true meaning of justice in America.
Back in September, the Trump administration announced its plans for a widespread operation in Illinois called Operation Midway Blitz. Their goal with this operation was to round up as many undocumented immigrants as possible in order to fight crime. Additionally, Trump had previously been pressuring the Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to deploy the state National Guard. Pritzker, however, had refused, which led to weeks of arguments between the two. Ultimately, Trump decided to take matters into his own hands by federalizing the Illinois National Guard and working with Texas Republicans to send hundreds of their state guards to Illinois. While Trump justifies his decision with the need to fight crime and have Chicago “cleaned,” claiming that the Governor is letting people be killed in the city, statistics tell a different story. According to Politico, compared to 2024, murders are down by almost 30 percent this year, and shootings have fallen to almost 40 percent. Therefore, it is safe to say Trump’s decision to militarize the city with ICE and the National Guard goes beyond combating crime.
It has been clear since Trump began campaigning for President that one of his main selling points was targeting undocumented immigrants and stereotyping them as criminals in order to gain voters. Due to this, a political climate of violence and fear has been created among immigrants who now fear going about their daily activities. On the other hand, ICE agents have the right to racially profile individuals based on skin color and the language they speak, foregoing due process, all while having the privilege of remaining anonymous behind their masks. Taking this into consideration, it is clear that Chicago is not an isolated incident but the first of many stops across major U.S. cities for the Trump administration to meet their promised numbers.
It is easy to remain numb watching through a phone screen or television, but many forget that these raids have devastating real-world consequences. Families are being separated without warning, children are coming home to find their parents gone, and entire neighborhoods are living in a state of constant fear. Schools, churches, and community centers, places that have historically been sanctuaries, are now seen as unsafe. Many undocumented individuals, even those with no criminal record, are avoiding hospitals, grocery stores, and public spaces altogether, not because they are guilty of anything, but because the mere act of existing in public puts them at risk.
Even someone’s own home may not be safe for people of color. On Tuesday, September 30th, at around 1 am, ICE raided a 5-story apartment complex. Armed federal agents could be seen rappelling from helicopters onto the roof of the apartment complex, kicking down doors, and throwing flashbang grenades. Adults and children alike were detained in zip ties, and dozens were arrested. Beyond the unnecessary use of military style tactics on innocent civilians, what many cannot fathom is the dehumanization of these arrests.
Ultimately, this moment is about more than just one city. Chicago is serving as a testing ground for a broader national campaign that uses fear as a political tool. When a government begins to strip away rights from one group, its consequences will eventually lead to the erosion of everyone’s rights. These raids are not just attacks on undocumented immigrants; they are attacks on the very principles of justice, equality, and human dignity.
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This article was edited by Anna Gehres and Cameron Ma.
Yasmine L'Bahy 
John Virgil Aton 
Catherine Topps