Nine individuals, comprising three undocumented immigrants and six American citizens, were apprehended in the Chicago area on October 22. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the day as “one of the most violent” during the ongoing Operation Midway Blitz.

“In Cicero and Glendale Heights, our immigration enforcement teams encountered significant resistance,” noted DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement. “Law enforcement faced numerous threats, including vehicle ramming, fleeing crime scenes, and causing multiple accidents, which jeopardized both officers and the public. Despite these challenges, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) successfully detained three illegal immigrants. Additionally, six citizens were arrested for obstructing justice and making violent threats against our agents.”

McLaughlin further emphasized the increasing dangers faced by officers, stating, “Our personnel are increasingly under attack as they risk their lives to apprehend individuals involved in serious crimes like murder, rape, and gang activity.”

The DHS recounted five separate incidents from that Wednesday, highlighting instances where U.S. citizens allegedly threatened violence against immigration officers. One notable case involved Isabel Mata, a U.S. citizen, who reportedly threatened a law enforcement official by suggesting a hit on Border Patrol commander Chief Gregory Bovino. This incident has been referred to the FBI for further investigation.

During the same operation, Greg Bovino, Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent of the El Centro sector, was on the ground in the Cicero neighborhood overseeing immigration raids. (Jim Vondruska/Reuters)

In a separate case, DHS identified Jacqueline Lopez, Eliana Bahena, and Jonathan Uribe as three U.S. citizens who allegedly followed Border Patrol vehicles to draw attention to them. DHS reported that one of the vehicles attempted to ram a Border Patrol car, leading to the arrest of all three individuals.

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. While 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 on Oct. 22, 2025.  (Jim Vondruska/Reuters)

DHS said that both 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 on 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 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 from the scene. Abraham died at the scene, while Polzin succumbed to her injuries the next day at the hospital.