Protesters march in downtown Chicago against immigration crackdown

Thousands take to Chicago streets to protest 'Operation Midway Blitz'

Protesters gathered at Congress Plaza and marched on Michigan Avenue to denounce the White House?s new immigration crackdown, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz.

CHICAGO - Protesters gathered in the Loop, marching along Michigan Avenue on Tuesday, to denounce the White House’s latest immigration crackdown targeting Chicago, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz.

What we know:

Demonstrators assembled near Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive at 5 p.m. on Tuesday before taking their voices to the streets following remarks from organizers.

The protest was led by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and the Coalition Against the Trump Agenda (CATA), among other organizations. Organizers said they oppose the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in the Chicago area, along with their plans to ramp up arrests. 

They also alleged that recent actions, including the boarding up of the Broadview processing center, suggest federal officials are preparing to escalate enforcement efforts.

Speakers, like Craig Ymson, who works with the Tanggol Migrante Movement, have dedicated themselves to protecting immigrant rights and say they will continue to speak out. 

"Sometimes, it's hard to feel like people don't care, but they do care, and that's kind of the beauty of Chicago then. Everyone's here, we're all really close together, we're all neighbors, so it means a lot to us," Ymson said. 

Tuesday's protest, which drew hundreds of people, remained peaceful. Chicago police deployed a heavy presence, with dozens of bicycle officers on-hand to block streets with rolling closures, a tactic used during past demonstrations.

What's next:

Those who were downtown during rush hour on Tuesday evening may have noticed minor delays. 

As the weekend nears, those who live and work in the area should be prepared for traffic backups as Mexican Independence Day celebrations get underway.