Chicago — Operation Midway Blitz

6 proceedings tracked · Active

Operation Midway Blitz was the federal immigration enforcement surge in the Chicago area that DHS announced on September 8, 2025. The operation generated a cluster of litigation over the tactics agents used, the use of force and conditions at the Broadview ICE facility, and Illinois sanctuary law. The attempted National Guard deployment that ran alongside it is tracked separately under National Guard Deployments, because that fight turns on military-deployment law rather than immigration enforcement.

Operation + Tactics

Illinois v. Department of Homeland Security

1:26-cv-00321 · N.D. Ill. · 2026-01-12

Illinois sued DHS challenging the tactics of Operation Midway Blitz, including the use of militarized personnel and semi-automatic weapons in civil immigration enforcement, as unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Active → Full case page

Use of Force + Facility

Chicago Headline Club v. Noem

1:25-cv-12173 · N.D. Ill. · 2025-10-03

Journalists and protesters challenged the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets by federal agents at the Broadview ICE facility on First and Fourth Amendment grounds. A TRO was granted October 8, 2025; the Seventh Circuit later vacated relief on mootness grounds.

Closed → Full case page

Use of Force + Facility

Village of Broadview v. DHS

1:25-cv-12164 · N.D. Ill. · 2025-10-06

The Village of Broadview sued DHS under the Administrative Procedure Act over an eight-foot fence federal agents erected on municipal property without permits or notice. A TRO was granted October 9, 2025, and the court ordered the fence removed. (Not yet on the tracker as its own case page.)

Active

Use of Force + Facility

Moreno Gonzalez v. Noem

1:25-cv-13323 · N.D. Ill. · 2025-10-30

A class action alleging detainees held at the Broadview ICE facility were denied food, water, hygiene, medical care, and access to counsel. The court described the conditions as unnecessarily cruel.

Active → Full case page

Sanctuary / State-Federal

United States v. State of Illinois

1:25-cv-01285 · N.D. Ill. · 2025-02-06

The federal government's preemption challenge to Illinois sanctuary laws, including the Illinois TRUST Act and Chicago's Welcoming City ordinance. The court dismissed the suit on July 25, 2025, holding the sanctuary laws protected by the Tenth Amendment.

Closed → Full case page

Sanctuary / State-Federal

Organized Communities Against Deportations v. Trump

1:25-cv-00868 · N.D. Ill. · 2025-01-27

A First Amendment challenge to enforcement targeting immigrant-rights advocates, filed before Operation Midway Blitz began. Voluntarily dismissed without prejudice on February 27, 2025.

Closed → Full case page