37 Arrested in ICE Raid at Chicago Apartments; U.S.-Born Children Separated from Parents

A large overnight immigration raid in Chicago has left tenants and neighbors shaken, with dozens of arrests and children separated from their parents.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, 37 undocumented immigrants were arrested during the operation at a South Shore apartment building early Tuesday morning. Officials said most of those taken into custody were from Venezuela, with others from Mexico, Nigeria, and Colombia. Two were identified as alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang.

Neighbors described the scene as chaotic, with helicopters circling, flash bangs exploding, and military-style vehicles filling the parking lot. “It was an invasion,” said neighbor Darrell Ballard, who saw residents detained outside for hours.

Tenants reported that nearly everyone in the building was detained, including U.S. citizens. Pertissue Fisher told CNN affiliate WLS she was handcuffed despite having no warrants. DHS confirmed at least one U.S. citizen with an active narcotics warrant was turned over to Chicago police.

The raid also resulted in four U.S.-born children being separated from their undocumented parents. DHS said the children were temporarily taken into custody “for their own safety” until they could be placed with guardians or state care.

The South Shore raid is part of the Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” which DHS says has led to more than 800 arrests in Chicago since September 8.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker condemned the actions, accusing federal agents of “snatching up families, scaring law-abiding residents, violating due process rights, and even detaining U.S. citizens.”

Images from the aftermath showed shattered windows, debris-filled hallways, and belongings scattered across units. DHS says it is still gathering information from the raid “due to the size” of the operation.

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