Feds Request 100 Military Personnel Be Sent To Illinois: Pritzker

CHICAGO — Referring to ICE agents as "jack-booted thugs," Gov. J.B. Pritzker decried federal efforts to detain Chicago residents over the weekend as he says military troops could soon be headed to Illinois as part of "Operation Midway Blitz."

"Moments ago the Illinois National Guard received word that the Department of Homeland Security has sent a memo to the Department of War seeking the deployment of 100 military troops to Illinois claiming a need for the protection of ICE personnel and facilities," Pritzker said during a Monday afternoon press conference.

Federal immigration agents made their presence known in downtown Chicago over the weekend as they arrested people based on, among other factors, "how they look," a top U.S. Border Patrol official said. Meanwhile, a video posted Sunday evening showing a man on a bike getting away from at least seven ICE agents has gone viral.

Immigration agents, some who were masked, were first spotted in downtown Chicago and the River North neighborhood early Sunday making arrests, according to media reports. Gregory Bovino, commander at large of the border force, shared with reporters what factors were considered when agents opted to make an arrest, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

• Top Border Agent: People Arrested On 'How They Look' As ICE Comes To Downtown Chicago

“You know, there’s many different factors that go into something like that,” Bovino said. “It would be agent experience, intelligence that indicates there’s illegal aliens in a particular place or location

“Then, obviously, the particular characteristics of an individual, how they look. How do they look compared to, say, you?” he said to a WBEZ reporter — a tall, middle-aged man of Anglo descent.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker once again decried the immigration enforcement efforts on Sunday, which have been underway for three weeks in the Chicago area as part of the Trump administration's "Operation Midway Blitz." He said the federal agents appeared to be carrying large weapons in downtown Chicago — a move that "is not making anybody safer" and is "instilling fear in our communities and hurting our businesses."

Also on Sunday, a video showing at least seven federal immigration agents unsuccessfully trying to apprehend a man on a bicycle has gone viral. The video was posted on X by GrayStak Media co-founder and CEO Christopher Sweat.

Newsweek is reporting that reports circulating on social media point to the man being pursued by ICE after making verbal comments. The video has been shared widely since it was posted at 6 p.m. Sunday, with more than 4.1 million views as of Monday morning, as has drawn a range of comments: some questioning the need for such a public pursuit, others praising the man's quick maneuvering and escape and others expressing amusement by the video.

Also over the weekend, protesters were taken into custody at the ICE facility in Broadview. Reporters at the scene of the rally reported border patrol agents detained protesters "immediately" if they got too close to agents or did not clear the road Saturday night. Agents also took wooden shields and umbrellas from protesters who took part in a rally Saturday night outside the ICE processing center in Broadview.

Revcom Corps for the Emancipation of Humanity Chicago and the Revolutionary Black Panther Party organized the rally Saturday outside the ICE facility as dozens stopped out to voice their opposition to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement effort, which has been named "Operation Midway Blitz," according to WGN News.

“Today we gather in solidarity. We want everybody that is listening and that will listen to understanding this is all of our fight. It’s not one group against the other group. They’re coming for us all,” one protester told the crowd.

• Protesters Arrested Outside ICE Facility In Broadview: Reports

ICE launched the Chicago area operation on Sept. 8, drawing concern from activists and immigrant communities fearful of the large-scale arrests or aggressive tactics used in other cities targeted by the Republican president.

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