The Border Patrol official who spearheaded immigration enforcement in Los Angeles in June has arrived in Chicago, signaling an increase in operations targeting illegal immigrants in the Windy City.
“Well, Chicago, we’ve arrived! Operation At Large is here to continue the mission we started in Los Angeles—to make the city safer by targeting and arresting criminal illegal aliens,” he stated on X.
The operation, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, was launched in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run involving an illegal immigrant in Illinois, according to the agency.
“ICE has been gathering its agents. It has taken them longer than I think they anticipated,” he said. “I expect that this will continue. I expect that they now have more people on the ground and will effectuate their plans to an even greater degree.”
“President [Donald] Trump has been clear: if politicians will not put the safety of their citizens first, this administration will. I was on the ground in Chicago today to make clear we are not backing down,” she stated.
Noem noted that federal agents have arrested “violent offenders” on charges including assault, driving under the influence, and felony stalking during the operation.
“Our work is only beginning,” she said.
He stated that the order would allow the local police department to work with protest organizers to establish “a mutually acceptable alternative plan” in the event that federal law enforcement interferes with “lawful protest activity.”
“This executive action is about being proactive so that we are prepared for any possible large-scale demonstration in response to the increasingly reckless federal government,” Johnson said in a statement.
