On October 22, authorities arrested three undocumented immigrants along with six American citizens in the Chicago region during what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described as an exceptionally violent day in its Operation Midway Blitz.

During immigration enforcement activities in Cicero and Glendale Heights, law enforcement faced significant obstacles. According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, officers were pursued by agitators, had their vehicles rammed, and experienced situations that led to multiple accidents, posing risks to both law enforcement personnel and the general public, as stated in a statement.

Despite these challenges, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) managed to apprehend three individuals violating immigration laws. Additionally, six citizens were detained for obstructing the operations and making threats to the officers’ lives.

The officers have been increasingly subjected to assaults while undertaking the perilous task of apprehending individuals accused of serious crimes such as murder, rape, and gang affiliations.

Throughout Wednesday, five separate incidents were reported where U.S. citizens allegedly resorted to threats and aggressive behavior against immigration officers. Notably, DHS mentioned that Isabel Mata, an American citizen, allegedly threatened a law enforcement officer by claiming she would contract a hit on Border Patrol Commander Chief Gregory Bovino. This incident was reported to the FBI for further investigation.

Greg Bovino, Border Patrol chief patrol agent of the El Centro sector, speaks with federal agents in the Cicero neighborhood during an immigration raid in Chicago Oct. 22, 2025.  (Jim Vondruska/Reuters)

In another incident, three U.S. citizens, who DHS identified as Jacqueline Lopez, Eliana Bahena and Jonathan Uribe, allegedly tailed Border Patrol vehicles “to draw attention to them.” DHS said that one driver attempted to ram a vehicle. All three drivers were taken into custody, according to DHS.

The third incident allegedly involved a member of the Latin Kings gang. DHS said that U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) was targeted by a U.S. citizen who was “displaying an anti-ICE flag.” Alexis Correa, who DHS claimed was the driver and a member of the Latin Kings, allegedly followed agents for several miles before attempting to ram the vehicle. USBP was able to evade Correa, who then allegedly hit another civilian vehicle. DHS said Correa was arrested under 18 U.S. Code 111, which makes it a federal crime to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate or interfere with certain federal officials.

Also on Wednesday, CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers arrested a U.S. citizen, identified by DHS as Alexander Torres. He is accused of “recklessly impeding operations and tailing government vehicles.” According to DHS, he ignored multiple commands from officers to stop and “eventually boxed in government vehicles in an alleyway.”

People use their phones to record as they argue with federal agents at an intersection in the Cicero neighborhood during an immigration raid in Chicago Oct. 22, 2025.  (Jim Vondruska/Reuters)

DHS said that Correa and Torres had criminal records. According to the department, Correa’s record includes convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm, destroying evidence and a DUI. Torres’ record allegedly includes convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm by a gang member, DHS said.

In the fifth incident, USBP encountered three illegal immigrants from Mexico who DHS said were “in violation of our nation’s immigration laws.” 

The illegal immigrants allegedly refused to comply with agents’ verbal commands to exit their vehicle. The driver, who DHS identified as Jose Mauricio Rosas-Hernandez, allegedly “reversed into a government vehicle and scraped another USBP unit.” DHS said that one agent was struck in the knee while chasing the suspects on foot. According to DHS, the three illegal immigrants were taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

“Secretary Noem’s message to the rioters is clear: You will not stop us or slow us down. CBP and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” McLaughlin said.

A person argues with a federal agent at an intersection in the Cicero neighborhood during an immigration raid in Chicago Oct. 22, 2025.  (Jim Vondruska/Reuters)

Operation Midway Blitz was launched last month in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run allegedly caused by Julio Cucul-Bol, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala. DHS stated the goal of the operation was to “target criminal illegal aliens terrorizing Americans in sanctuary Illinois.”

Abraham and her friend, Chloe Polzin, were at a stoplight when a suspected drunk driver struck their car and fled. Abraham died at the crash site, while Polzin succumbed to her injuries the next day at the hospital.