Border Patrol Deploys Armed Boats on Chicago River Amid Immigration Operation Midway Blitz

Armed U.S. Customs and Border Protection boats were spotted patrolling the Chicago River as part of President Donald Trump's "Operation Midway Blitz," a crackdown targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records in Chicago and its suburbs. Four boats carrying armed agents docked near the Chicago Harbor Lock, a busy commercial and recreational area connecting the river to Lake Michigan, though the practical purpose of water patrols in an area without a foreign border has been questioned. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks announced his arrival in Chicago, emphasizing the mission to prevent criminal aliens from settling in communities. The operation has sparked protests and clashes with ICE agents, including arrests and the use of tear gas outside immigration facilities. Local officials and immigrant advocates criticize the use of patrol boats as an unnecessary escalation and a publicity tactic rather than a practical enforcement measure. The operation's enforcement activities have extended into neighborhoods like Back of the Yards, where arrests have been reported, fueling community resistance.