Just days after President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security announced a surge of immigration law enforcement in Chicago, dubbing it “Operation Midway Blitz,” state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is saying that all suburbs should prepare in case federal law enforcement activity extends into their towns.
On Thursday, Hernandez hosted an informational session with a representative from the Illinois Coalition on Immigrant and Refugee Rights and several Aurora aldermen meant to address what local businesses can do if federal agents arrive at their workplaces. The training addressed topics like distinguishing between federal and local law enforcement badges, how individuals can respond to federal law enforcement agents’ presence in both public and private business spaces and what to do if apprehended by federal agents.
Weeks ago, President Trump was floating the possibility of sending National Guard troops to Chicago, according to past reporting. Then, last weekend, he set the stage for a surge of immigration enforcement in the city with a social media post with the title “Chipocalypse Now.”
Though Trump has seemingly put on pause the plans to send the National Guard to Chicago, on Monday, the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security announced “Operation Midway Blitz,” the much-anticipated immigration enforcement surge, according to past reporting.
As of Thursday, immigration rights groups were seeing a massive spike in hotline calls for legal and other help as federal Homeland Security officials this week launched the immigration enforcement effort, according to past reporting, though it’s not entirely clear how many arrests have been made so far.
And, though the crackdown has centered around Chicago, all suburbs need to prepare, according to Hernandez.
“I don’t exactly know what level of activity we’ll receive in the suburbs, but I think we need to get ready for anything,” Hernandez told The Beacon-News on Thursday.
Aurora’s population is nearly 40% Hispanic, compared to just under 20% in Illinois, according to the most recent available U.S. Census data. Its population is 29% foreign-born, nearly double the state percentage. And, of those foreign-born residents, a little over 60% were not U.S. citizens, according to the census data.
At the information session hosted by Hernandez, Illinois Coalition on Immigrant and Refugee Rights family support network coordinator Xochitl Esparza presented in both English and Spanish on the laws in Illinois regarding immigration enforcement, in particular the state’s TRUST Act. That law generally prohibits state and local law enforcement from getting involved in deportation efforts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other federal policing agencies on immigration matters, unless there is a federal criminal warrant involved, according to past reporting.
In January, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced operations in the Chicago area, former Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said the city’s police department would not be enforcing federal immigration laws, according to past reporting. The Aurora Police Department at the time also stated that its policies and practices were aligned with the Illinois TRUST Act, and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office also indicated that it cannot assist ICE because of that law.
Esparza also compared the badges of local and federal law enforcement agencies, suggesting that it is important for individuals to be able to distinguish between them if they have an interaction with federal agents. She also described what a judicial warrant that a federal agent might show to a business owner or individual might look like.
Under Illinois’ sanctuary state policies, Illinois law enforcement cannot cooperate with federal immigration enforcement agents unless they have a detainment warrant issued by a judge, according to past reporting. ICE routinely uses an administrative detainment warrant it issues on its own.
Esparza also emphasized that individuals who interact with federal agents have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with and be represented by an attorney.
And Esparza discussed the difference between public and private spaces when it comes to where federal agents can enter. She said the Illinois Coalition on Immigrant and Refugee Rights recommends, for example, placing signs in businesses indicating which areas are private or for employees only.
Aurora aldermen Dan Barreiro, Jonathan Nunez and Javier Banuelos attended Thursday’s session.
Hernandez’s event on Thursday comes as other Chicago suburban communities are grappling with the possibility of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the area.
For example, both Evanston and Elgin have passed resolutions banning law enforcement agents from wearing masks while on the job, according to past reporting. The measures are largely symbolic, however, because the cities don’t have governance over the federal government’s actions and therefore couldn’t enforce the ban when it comes to federal agents. Evanston also saw an arrest by federal agents on Thursday morning, according to past reporting.
Hernandez is attempting to get similar legislation passed at the state level, though she acknowledged on Thursday that local and state governments don’t have jurisdiction over the federal government.
She said her office has previously hosted a “Know Your Rights” information session focused more on residential areas rather than businesses, and a session on power of attorney in the event an individual is deported.
Another part of her office’s response to swirling concerns around immigration enforcement, she said on Thursday, has been responding to and posting about false reports of federal agent sightings on social media. She said her office refers reports of ICE activity to the Aurora Rapid Response Team.
Hernandez said her office is determining what it will do next as far as addressing local concerns about federal immigration enforcement. But she thinks local governments could “do a lot more” in terms of providing information and resources.
“I think many people just assume that this is only going to happen in Chicago, because that’s what’s kind of in the news,” Hernandez said on Thursday. “But, in reality, this is going to happen everywhere. And we just need to prepare, and that’s why I want to keep doing these events to make sure that people are ready.”
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com
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September 12, 2025 at 04:59PM
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