In recent weeks, Chicago has been a major focus for the Trump administration. On Sept. 9, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially began a surge in immigration enforcement that the Trump regime is calling “Operation Midway Blitz”.
Federal agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies are operating out of Naval Station Great Lakes along the North Shore and an ICE facility in west suburban Broadview. According to a press release on September 8, DHS claims it will “target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois.” DHS claims undocumented migrants came to Chicago because of the city and state sanctuary laws that prohibit local law enforcement from assisting ICE.
Trump also threatened to send the National Guard to Democratic run cities, including Baltimore, New Orleans and Chicago, in recent weeks. However, despite those statements and even with violent crime rates dropping in all three cities, the planned deployment of the National Guard to Chicago will not take place. Trump announced on “Fox and Friends” on September 12 that he will instead be sending troops to Memphis, TN.
The Independent spoke to NEIU students to hear how they feel about the surge in immigration enforcement and their thoughts on the Trump administration’s previous announcement to send the National Guard to Chicago.
“I think it’s scary,” Nikki Cambray, an NEIU freshman, told the Independent, “I know a lot of people that aren’t legally here. [Immigrants] have done nothing but work for their families and work to get to a point where they’re stable.”
Cambray’s voice grew somber as she added, “Just that uneasiness, not knowing if you’ll see your family member tomorrow or your neighbor tomorrow because they don’t have papers.”
Cambray is not the only student to express fear and unease about potential ICE presence. Samantha Franks, a freshman psychology major, said deploying the National Guard would have done more harm than good.
“I definitely don’t think that the people here have good relationships with the [Chicago] police to begin with,” Franks said. “So, I feel like sending the National Guard will not decrease crime.”
Frank’s family are from the U.S., but she says that does not spare her from feeling unease over the surge.
“It’s scary because I didn’t totally realize that this would affect so many people in my life,” she said, “I didn’t realize how many of my friends were undocumented and how scary it is for them and their families.”
For those who are concerned about potential ICE presence on NEIU property, resources are available. Below are links to some resources available to NEIU students.
