CHICAGO — Federal agents carried out a large-scale immigration raid at a South Shore apartment complex on September 30, 2025, detaining adults and children and leaving tenants shaken.
Residents described chaotic scenes with debris scattered in hallways, windows broken, and military-style vehicles and a Black Hawk helicopter overhead.
“I’ve been on military bases for a good portion of my life,” said Darrell Ballard, a neighbor. “And the activity I saw – it was an invasion.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that 37 undocumented immigrants were arrested, mostly from Venezuela, but also from Mexico, Nigeria, and Colombia. The building was targeted for its connection to members of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, with two arrestees believed to be members. Others had prior criminal histories, including aggravated battery and possession of controlled substances.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the raid:
“Federal agents reporting to Secretary Noem have spent weeks snatching up families, scaring law-abiding residents, violating due process rights, and even detaining U.S. citizens. They fail to focus on violent criminals and instead create panic in our communities.”
Several tenants reported that everyone in the building, including U.S. citizens, was detained during the operation.
“It was scary, because I had never had a gun in my face,” said Pertissue Fisher, a resident who was handcuffed and released at 3 a.m. “They asked my name and date of birth… even though I had no warrants.”
One U.S. citizen with an active narcotics warrant was also arrested and handed over to the Chicago Police Department.
Four children who are U.S. citizens with undocumented parents were taken into custody for their safety, including a child allegedly connected to a Tren de Aragua member. DHS said the children were placed in the care of a safe guardian or state authorities.
Neighbors described panicked scenes with flash bangs, crying children, and families separated.
“They was terrified. The kids was crying. People was screaming. I was out there crying when I seen the little girl come around the corner, because they was bringing the kids down, too, had them zip tied to each other,” said Eboni Watson, a neighbor.
This raid is part of “Operation Midway Blitz,” a nationwide effort in which federal agents have arrested more than 800 undocumented immigrants in Chicago since September 8. DHS stated it is still gathering information due to the operation’s size and emphasized that law enforcement will act against criminal activity in American neighborhoods.
The raid highlights the growing concerns over U.S.-born children left without parents amid the administration’s immigration enforcement actions, with more than 100 children identified this year as being stranded nationwide.
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