ICE operations in Chicago will continue during Halloween, says Kristi Noem
Governor Pritzker made the request to “suspend” the immigration crackdown after federal agents deployed a chemical agent in a Chicago neighbourhood preparing for a Halloween parade.
October 31, 2025 01:23 AM IST
First published on: Oct 31, 2025 at 01:23 AM IST
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U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents arrive to escort U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Gregory Bovino from federal court in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Kristi Noem, the US Secretary of Homeland Security, on Thursday said the ongoing ICE operations in and around Chicago will continue during the Halloween weekend.
“No, we’re absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe,” Noem said at a press conference in Gary, Indiana.
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem discusses recent results of Operation Midway Blitz. (Photo: AP)
Illinois Governor sought suspension of ICE crackdown
Noem’s comments came after Illinois Governor JB Pritzker requested a pause on ICE operations in Chicago during the Halloween weekend.
According to The Associated Press, Governor Pritzker made the request to “suspend” the immigration crackdown after federal agents deployed a chemical agent in a Chicago neighbourhood preparing for a Halloween parade. Neighbours said several children were affected, and US citizens were among those handcuffed.
The crackdown that started nearly two months ago has led to tense clashes and roughly 3,000 arrests across Chicago’s metro area, which includes parts of Indiana.
Pritzker says Illinois families “deserve to spend Halloween without fear.”
However, on Thursday, Noem rejected the request and termed it shameful. “The fact that Gov. Pritzker is asking for that is shameful,” she was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.
Operation Midway Blitz
The crackdown against illegal immigrants in Chicago, codenamed Operation Midway Blitz, was launched in September and involves multiple federal agencies, including ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The Trump administration has also deployed over 500 National Guard troops from Illinois and Texas, a move that has been challenged by Chicago and Illinois in court.
Protesters yell towards US Customs and Border Patrol Gregory Bovino when he leaves federal court in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Clashes in Chicago
Chicago has witnessed frequent clashes between federal immigration agents and protesters. Community members and even political candidates have confronted agents during raids, leading to arrests, reports of excessive force, and legal battles.
The most prominent such case involves Kat Abughazaleh, a Democratic Party Congressional candidate who was indicted on Wednesday for blocking a federal agent’s vehicle during September protests outside an immigration enforcement building in suburban Chicago.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Gregory Bovino arrives outside federal court in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Amid allegations of aggressive tactics, a federal judge in Chicago on Tuesday ordered Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino to report daily on his agents’ use of force and limit crowd control measures.
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U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents arrive to escort U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Gregory Bovino from federal court in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) 
