ICE Launches Operation Midway Blitz To Protect Chicago

A lot of things about Jan. 19, 2025 haunt Joe Abraham’s dreams. But one fact in particular about the way in which his 20-year-old daughter, Katie, was senselessly killed that day in a hit-and-run crash keeps him up at night.

“They didn’t just kill Katie. They killed Katie’s kids, Katie’s kids’ kids. Her legacy is no longer there. She has been stopped,” (Ice Launches Operation Midway Blitz Honor Katie Abraham Target Criminal Illegal — dhs.gov) Abraham, of Glenview, Ill., told The Federalist in an interview Monday evening.

On Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched Operation Midway Blitz, targeting what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described as “the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor [J.B.] Pritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them.” (Ice Launches Operation Midway Blitz Honor Katie Abraham Target Criminal Illegal — dhs.gov)

Katie Abraham was pronounced dead at the scene of a hit-and-run car crash near the University of Illinois in Urbana. A friend, 21-year-old Chloe Polzin, died from her injuries later at the hospital. The alleged perpetrator, Julio Cucul-Bol, a 29-year-old Guatemalan national, was reportedly driving under the influence when he collided with the vehicle carrying the two women.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “This operation will target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Chicago,” (Ice Launches Operation Midway Blitz Honor Katie Abraham Target Criminal Illegal — dhs.gov) emphasizing that it was launched in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed by someone who should not have been in the country.

The operation faced criticism from Illinois officials, including Governor Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who labeled it as reckless and unconstitutional. Pritzker expressed concerns that the operation was not a genuine effort to combat crime but rather a tactic to instill fear among residents.

Polls indicate that Mayor Johnson's approval ratings have plummeted, with nearly 80 percent of Chicagoans expressing unfavorable opinions about his leadership, primarily due to the city's rising crime rates.

In addition to Cucul-Bol, other cases have highlighted the challenges posed by sanctuary policies. Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, a 52-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, was charged with serious crimes but was released back into the community, raising concerns among victims’ families about public safety.

Joe Abraham expressed frustration over the lack of communication from state officials regarding the impact of sanctuary policies on crime. He hopes that Operation Midway Blitz will lead to meaningful changes in how Illinois addresses public safety and illegal immigration.

Abraham believes his daughter would support efforts to prevent further senseless deaths, stating, “She was such a gentle-natured soul. I think it would break her heart not to stand up and say that no one else should be killed senselessly.