By Cathleen Gutekanst
(an activist living in Chicago)
September 27, 2025

CHICAGO, Illinois — On September 16, 2025, Joe Botello, an Elgin, Illinois, man born in the United States, was zip-tied, questioned, and had his front doors shattered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. He was one of four men shown on a video released by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was present at the raid. Botello was let go later after showing proof of citizenship.

“I’m just blessed that I’m still alive,” Botello said. “I’ve been hearing it and seeing it through social media. But it never crossed my mind that it was going to happen here at the house … where I live.”

The raid came amid escalating threats by U.S. president Donald Trump that he would target this city by sending in federal troops to “fight crime.” While troops have not yet been deployed, an immigration crackdown by ICE is already underway. “Operation Midway Blitz” began in early September, mostly in Chicago’s suburbs with large immigrant populations like Elgin.

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