Ranking Member Raskin, Rep. García Lead Judiciary Democrats in Demanding Trump Administration End Lawless and Violent Crackdown on Chicago

Washington, D.C. (October 16, 2025)—Today, Chicagoland Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García and Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, are leading Committee Democrats in demanding the Trump Administration immediately end its unlawful and violent enforcement campaign in the Chicagoland region, warning that the Administration’s actions are undermining public safety, violating constitutional rights, and destabilizing communities.

“The Administration claims the mantle of law and order, yet its actions in the Chicagoland area demonstrate it is a catalyst for lawlessness and dysfunction. The city undoubtedly has its challenges with public safety, like so many communities both urban and rural throughout our country, but murders and other violent crimes have recorded historic declines in recent years. Violently abusing residents, kidnapping parents and children and disappearing them into detention facilities without access to basic necessities, and illegally deploying the military against a great American city does nothing to make anyone safer—in fact, it jeopardizes the safety and well-being of every community member,” wrote the Members.

For months, personnel from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have employed military-style tactics in enforcement operations across Chicago, spreading fear, chaos, and violence. Such extreme enforcement tactics have only escalated since the Administration’s announcement of Operation Midway Blitz in September. In early October, President Trump went further, federalized the National Guard—over the objections of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker—and ordered troops to Illinois to enable these unlawful and unconstitutional assaults on Chicagoland residents.

In October alone, DHS personnel have shot two people and publicly advanced self-serving narratives that were immediately contradicted by body camera and surveillance footage, handcuffed an Alderperson at a hospital checking on the welfare of a constituent being detained by ICE, indiscriminately deployed tear gas in front of a public school and against civilians and local law enforcement, placed a handcuffed man on the ground in a chokehold, shot a pastor in the head with a pepper ball, thrown flashbang grenades at civilians, and raidedan entire apartment complex and reportedly zip-tied U.S. citizens, children, and military veterans for hours. 

These abusive tactics by DHS and ICE have terrorized Chicago communities while doing nothing to improve public safety. They have ordered people to show up to ICE facilities and courthouses for routine immigration check-ins and hearings and detained them, detained U.S. citizens and others with legal status, snatched day laborers, children, parents, and grandparents off the streets, and have conducted numerous warrantless arrests lacking sufficient probable cause and violating a 2022 consent decree.

ICE is funneling many of the people it detains through the Broadview Processing Center, which it has converted into a de facto detention facility. Reports indicate the detainees are held for prolonged periods of time with limited access to food, bedding, shower, hygiene products, and communication with counsel and family members. DHS and ICE have attacked journalists and refused access to four Members of Congress in clear violation of federal law. Their brutal tactics against protestors outside the facility even prompted a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against the agencies.

“We demand the Administration halt these attacks. The American people want a common-sense approach to public safety and immigration, not violent tactics that traumatize and destabilize communities. They want leadership, not theater. We urge you to step back from the brink and use your positions to enhance public safety, instead of undermining it,” concluded the Members. 

Click here to read the letter.