State, local officials reflect on Midway Blitz, response to ICE
‘occupation’
[September 16, 2026]
By Sean Reed | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – One year after U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement began Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, state and local
officials gathered to discuss the outcomes of the operation targeting
people living in the city and country illegally.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, joined by state lawmakers, aldermen and a federal
judge, spoke at length about the enforcement operation they referred to
as an “occupation” Tuesday at La Villita Community Church in the city’s
Little Village neighborhood.
Pritzker pointed to research conducted at the University of Illinois
Chicago to talk about the operation’s economic impact on the city.
“Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago estimate that the
occupation resulted in $1.26 billion in lost restaurant and retail
activity in Cook County and an estimated $107 million in reduction of
local sales tax revenue,” Pritzker said.
In a recent statement to The Center Square, a Department of Homeland
Security spokesperson disputed the study’s findings.
The spokesperson said former President Joe Biden would’ve had a better
economy if there was any correlation between rampant illegal immigration
and a good economy.
“Removing these criminals from the streets makes communities safer for
business owners and customers,” the spokesperson said.
Pritzker also spoke about the state’s response alongside community
protest.
“When our communities were under pressure, our people did not turn away
from one another. They stepped up for one another. And state government
has stood with them,” Pritzker said.”I established the Illinois
Accountability Commission to make sure that what happened here would not
simply disappear from the public record.”
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The DHS spokesperson told The Center Square nearly 70% of
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests nationwide involve
illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S.
State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, D-Chicago, spoke to the legislative
response to the operation.
“We passed a private right of action so people whose constitutional
rights were violated can sue. We strengthened the protection in
schools, hospitals, and daycares, and I introduced legislation to
ban tear gas in Illinois,” Gonzalez said.
Pritzker announced Illinois joined a growing coalition suing the
federal government to block an order from President Trump that will
make it harder for lawful immigrants to receive green cards or
visas.
“The change in the public charge rule is wrong. He's trying to throw
people out who deserve to stay in this country and that's why our
Attorney General has joined the suit to fight against the public
charge rule change,” Pritzker said.
The proposed rule change would give agents more authority to deny
green cards or visas to lawful immigrants on the basis of being a
“public charge” – someone who is likely to depend on taxpayer-funded
support.
Jim Talamonti contributed to this story
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