New federal court records show that over 97% of individuals detained in a recent immigration operation in Chicago had no criminal convictions, directly challenging official claims that such sweeps target dangerous offenders.
Of the 614 people arrested during “Operation Midway Blitz,” which began in September, only 16 had significant criminal histories. Court documents indicate ten faced assault-related charges or convictions, one had convictions for enticement of a minor and kidnapping, one was classified as a “foreign criminal,” and two had drunk-driving convictions.
The remaining detainees—approximately 598 individuals—had neither criminal convictions nor pending criminal charges at the time of their arrest. While immigration authorities classified three dozen detainees as “high” risks to public safety, the overwhelming majority were assessed as posing minimal safety threats, though most were considered flight risks.
This information emerged from documents submitted by the Department of Homeland Security in an ongoing federal lawsuit, Castañon Nava v Department of Homeland Security, which challenges the agency’s warrantless arrest practices.
The pattern contradicts repeated administration assertions that immigration enforcement focuses on removing dangerous criminals. Earlier this year, similar operations in Southern California showed comparable results, with records indicating most detainees lacked criminal convictions.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security dismissed the Chicago data as “horrendously misleading,” maintaining that nationally, most immigration arrests involve individuals with criminal records or pending charges. However, statistics show a significant shift in enforcement priorities since January, with non-criminal detainees now constituting the largest category of individuals in immigration custody.
