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09/15/2025 — WHAT WE’VE HEARD TODAY:
The TRiiBE is collaborating with indie investigative newsroom Unraveled Press and Chicago alt-weekly Chicago Reader to publish reports about the increased enforcement and presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agents. Due to the rapid and sporadic nature of federal agent activity in the Chicagoland area, we’re working together to confirm and publish reports.
As of 3:45 p.m. today, federal agents have been spotted across the Chicagoland area. Federal agents have arrested people in southwest suburb Joliet, according to Chicago Reader news editor Shawn Mulcahy.
There’s also been activity in northwest suburb Elgin and suburban West Chicago. Illinois State Sen. Karina Villa (D- 25th District) went live on Facebook, alerting people about ICE activity in West Chicago this morning.
According to Elgin Rapid Response, which posted an activity recap for today, twelve people were detained from a residence in West Chicago this morning around 6:30 a.m. One video posted to Bluesky this morning shows agents breaking a person’s car window in West Chicago before handcuffing them.
Last week, Unraveled Press reported that U.S. Immigration Enforcement Agents (ICE) shot and killed 38-year-old Silverio Villegas González in the northwest suburb of Franklin Park during a traffic stop.
Though many local media outlets quoted the statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), claiming Villegas González dragged an ICE officer during his attempt to flee arrest, Unraveled published video accounts that show Villegas González driving away from the officers instead of towards them.
Bystanders who are interested in sending in video of federal agent activity can send it to newsrooms collecting footage using this link.
The escalated ICE activity in and around Chicago is part of “Operation Midway Blitz.” The plan was announced by the Department of Homeland Security last Monday, targeting “illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois.”
The Berwyn-Cicero Rapid Response Network, one of many groups across the city and state, posted multiple updates to its Instagram page of ICE sightings in Cicero this morning. The posts include the make and model of the alleged ICE vehicles, along with license plate numbers and a hotline number to report ICE activity at 855-435-7693.
A post this afternoon from Bluesky user, The People’s Fabric, shows an ICE branded Dodge Charger in the west suburb of Broadview, where the ICE processing facility is located and people were reportedly “snatched” by ICE agents this morning.
Read our live blog of ICE and federal agent activity below:
12:00 p.m.
The city of Waukegan released a statement about ICE activity within its city limits on its Instagram page.
“The City of Waukegan has confirmed reports of ongoing operations by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the city. You are encouraged to know your rights and be aware of misinformation. Inform yourself through trusted sources,” reads the statement.
“As a reminder, officers with the Waukegan Police Department will not conceal their identity and will continue to be clearly identifiable while on duty, wearing official uniforms with badges. In accordance with the Illinois TRUST Act, the Waukegan Police Department will not participate in federal immigration enforcement, as the act prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies from assisting the federal government with civil immigration enforcement,” the statement read.
Waukegan government officials encouraged people to visit illinoisimmigrationinfo.org for more information.
10:00 a.m.
The Joliet Rapid Response Team responded to reports of federal agents in front of City Hall in Joliet around 10:00 a.m.. Joliet is a southwestern suburb located roughly 50 miles from downtown Chicago.
According to witnesses, one person was pulled over, their window smashed in, and then they were apprehended. by several masked and unmasked officers The Joliet Rapid Response Team reported some officers were wearing green uniforms and vests with the word “POLICE” written on them and others wore black shirts and black vests with “POLICE ICE” on them.
6:00 a.m.
Reports of ICE agents staging in Elgin this morning shortly after 6:00 a.m. The Elgin Area Rapid Response also included this information in their summary of today’s events stating “Several unmarked vehicles and officers were observed in the City Hall parking lot. This appears to be a staging area.”
