Border Patrol Deploys Boats to Chicago River
U.S. Customs and Border Protection deployed marine units and boats onto the Chicago River on Sept. 25, 2025 as part of 'Operation Midway Blitz,' extending immigration‑enforcement patrols into inland waterways. CBP officials and social posts from agency leaders framed the move as part of a broader federal surge that has netted more than 500 arrests in the Chicago region, drawing criticism from local Democratic leaders and renewed debate over National Guard and federal deployments to U.S. cities.
Immigration
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📰 Sources (1)
Border Patrol deploys marine units to Chicago amid massive immigration crackdown
New information:
- CBP placed marine units on the Chicago River on Sept. 25, 2025 as part of 'Operation Midway Blitz' in the Chicago area.
- Federal officials say the wider operation has produced over 500 arrests; CBP leaders (USBP Chief Michael Banks, commander Gregory Bovino, and AMO Executive Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Miller) publicly posted about the waterborne patrols.
- The action provoked political backlash from Chicago Democrats (including Rep. Chuy Garcia) and Governor JB Pritzker has declined cooperation with broader federal National Guard deployment plans; the White House has signaled more city deployments (Memphis mentioned).