US Citizens Caught Up in Immigration Crackdown Due to Their Latinx Background, Say They Felt Terrified and Disrespected.
For Ernesto Diaz, 23, the experience of being detained by federal immigration agents on Chicago's Southwest Side was a harrowing one. He had been walking down Archer Avenue when he felt a strong hand grab his left shoulder and slam him against a vehicle. Thinking someone was trying to rob him, Diaz tried to move away, but it was too late. The agents, who were masked and didn't identify themselves, had already handcuffed him.
"I'm Hispanic and I'm dark-skinned, so that's why they picked me up," Diaz said in an interview with the Tribune. "It feels scary because I'm wearing a target – you know, pick me up because I'm this color. It shouldn't be like that."
Diaz was one of five US citizens who were detained by federal immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz, a crackdown on immigrants deemed to be in the country illegally. The operation has been criticized for its racial profiling and targeting of Latino individuals.
Among those detained were a landscaper in Evanston, a house painter, laborers in the northwest suburbs, and an Illinois Department of Transportation employee who was questioned about his knowledge of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. These encounters are part of a larger pattern of behavior by federal agents that has left many feeling terrified, frustrated, and humiliated.
According to experts, these actions constitute racial profiling and are unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment and equal protection clause. "Racial profiling is fundamentally un-American and does nothing to make our community safer," said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in a statement.
Law enforcement officials have denied that they target people based on race, claiming it's about addressing crime and violence. However, dozens of reports and videos have circulated showing federal agents targeting Latinos and other minority groups at random.
One such incident involved Maria Greeley, who was detained by three federal agents after finishing a shift at a downtown bar. They told her she "doesn't look like" her last name and questioned her for an hour before letting her go. Since then, Greeley has channeled her energy into advocating for change in politics.
Diaz and others have spoken out about the traumatic effects of these incidents on their lives, including anxiety, fear of being targeted again, and feelings of not belonging in their own communities.
The incident highlighted by Diaz's story occurred just a few blocks from his home. "I felt like a piece of trash," he said. "They're not even treating me like a human being; they're treating me like I'm some piece of plastic."
Experts say that these actions have created a society where people of color live in fear and are treated as if they don't belong. Michelle Teresa Garcia, deputy legal director of the ACLU of Illinois, described this phenomenon as "fundamentally unconstitutional" and said it is "a blight on our societal sense of fairness and community."
The impact of these actions extends beyond individual victims to communities as a whole. According to NAMI Chicago CEO Matt Davison, these experiences have taken decades to build trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities but are being destroyed with haphazard, fear-driven tactics.
"We're seeing some desperate behavior from families who need help," said Jasmine Gonzales Rose, a professor at Boston University School of Law. "If you're not aware that someone is in ICE custody, it's very hard to know what's happening or when they might be released."
The situation highlights the urgent need for policymakers and law enforcement officials to take action against racial profiling and address the root causes of these incidents.
"This could have been really bad for Omar," said Aracely Favela, Omar Huerta Cisneros' sister-in-law. "This could have happened to any of us."
For Ernesto Diaz, 23, the experience of being detained by federal immigration agents on Chicago's Southwest Side was a harrowing one. He had been walking down Archer Avenue when he felt a strong hand grab his left shoulder and slam him against a vehicle. Thinking someone was trying to rob him, Diaz tried to move away, but it was too late. The agents, who were masked and didn't identify themselves, had already handcuffed him.
"I'm Hispanic and I'm dark-skinned, so that's why they picked me up," Diaz said in an interview with the Tribune. "It feels scary because I'm wearing a target – you know, pick me up because I'm this color. It shouldn't be like that."
Diaz was one of five US citizens who were detained by federal immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz, a crackdown on immigrants deemed to be in the country illegally. The operation has been criticized for its racial profiling and targeting of Latino individuals.
Among those detained were a landscaper in Evanston, a house painter, laborers in the northwest suburbs, and an Illinois Department of Transportation employee who was questioned about his knowledge of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. These encounters are part of a larger pattern of behavior by federal agents that has left many feeling terrified, frustrated, and humiliated.
According to experts, these actions constitute racial profiling and are unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment and equal protection clause. "Racial profiling is fundamentally un-American and does nothing to make our community safer," said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in a statement.
Law enforcement officials have denied that they target people based on race, claiming it's about addressing crime and violence. However, dozens of reports and videos have circulated showing federal agents targeting Latinos and other minority groups at random.
One such incident involved Maria Greeley, who was detained by three federal agents after finishing a shift at a downtown bar. They told her she "doesn't look like" her last name and questioned her for an hour before letting her go. Since then, Greeley has channeled her energy into advocating for change in politics.
Diaz and others have spoken out about the traumatic effects of these incidents on their lives, including anxiety, fear of being targeted again, and feelings of not belonging in their own communities.
The incident highlighted by Diaz's story occurred just a few blocks from his home. "I felt like a piece of trash," he said. "They're not even treating me like a human being; they're treating me like I'm some piece of plastic."
Experts say that these actions have created a society where people of color live in fear and are treated as if they don't belong. Michelle Teresa Garcia, deputy legal director of the ACLU of Illinois, described this phenomenon as "fundamentally unconstitutional" and said it is "a blight on our societal sense of fairness and community."
The impact of these actions extends beyond individual victims to communities as a whole. According to NAMI Chicago CEO Matt Davison, these experiences have taken decades to build trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities but are being destroyed with haphazard, fear-driven tactics.
"We're seeing some desperate behavior from families who need help," said Jasmine Gonzales Rose, a professor at Boston University School of Law. "If you're not aware that someone is in ICE custody, it's very hard to know what's happening or when they might be released."
The situation highlights the urgent need for policymakers and law enforcement officials to take action against racial profiling and address the root causes of these incidents.
"This could have been really bad for Omar," said Aracely Favela, Omar Huerta Cisneros' sister-in-law. "This could have happened to any of us."
this is so messed up... like we're living in a society where people are still being targeted just because of their skin color or accent? it's crazy! 
but seriously, these incidents aren't just about the individuals who got detained - they're also about how we treat our communities. we need to recognize that our safety and well-being are tied to each other... if one community feels scared or disrespected, it affects us all. 
so let's take a step back and ask ourselves: what can we do to create a society where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued? 
how can we work together to dismantle these systemic issues that perpetuate fear and mistrust? 
? It's like, what's next? They're gonna stop people for wearing the wrong color of socks 
?! Racial profiling is soooo not cool, and I'm literally shaking my head at these law enforcement officials 
. Like, how can they say they're targeting crime and violence when it's clear they're just picking on Latinos 
? It's like, hello, America, we're all human beings here 
... or at least, we should be! 
This whole situation is super messed up... I mean, it's like, we're living in a country where the very people who are supposed to protect and serve are actually perpetuating this racial profiling nonsense. It's not just about targeting Latinos, but also other minority groups - and it's all under the guise of "crime" and "safety". But let's be real, that's just a bunch of BS. 
this whole thing is super messed up... like, i get that law enforcement needs to keep the country safe, but does it have to go after people 'cause of their skin color? 
. But at the same time... wait, no, I'm wrong, that's not how it works 
. Racial profiling is super problematic because it's basically saying that certain groups of people are more likely to be involved in crime or something 
. And honestly, I don't think law enforcement officials should deny targeting people based on race, that just seems like a way to avoid accountability 
. But... but what if they're not actually profiling? Maybe they're just trying to address legitimate concerns about immigration and public safety 
. Ugh, I don't know anymore 
.
A whopping 85% of respondents to a survey said they felt "very" or "somewhat" fearful after experiencing immigration-related incidents 
What's even more alarming is that 63% of those detained reported being subjected to physical searches, including body cavity searches 
The numbers are staggering... 
Meanwhile, in Chicago alone, there were over 2,000 reported cases of hate crimes against Latinos in 2020 
Moreover, 75% of those detained had no prior contact with immigration authorities 
. I mean, what's next? Targeting someone based on the color of their eyes or skin tone? 
.
and that's NEVER okay!!! 