{"id":1313371,"date":"2026-01-21T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/?p=1313371"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:54:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T21:54:58","slug":"wisconsin-watch-immigration-ice-enforcement-coverage-minnesota-illinois","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/01\/wisconsin-watch-immigration-ice-enforcement-coverage-minnesota-illinois\/","title":{"rendered":"As ICE surges next door, share your questions about immigration enforcement in Wisconsin","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/b><\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

Two of the Trump administration\u2019s largest immigration enforcement operations have unfolded just across Wisconsin\u2019s border. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security dispatched hundreds of federal agents to Illinois, citing state \u201csanctuary policies\u201d that bar local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement<\/a>. In a press release announcing the operation, DHS Assistant Secretary Trisha McLaughlin called Illinois \u201ca safe haven for criminal illegal aliens<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dubbed \u201cMidway Blitz,\u201d the operation dramatically increased the pace of immigration arrests in greater Chicago within its first month-and-a-half<\/a>. The surge coincided with frequent clashes between federal agents and protesters, who documented incidents in which agents drew firearms while conducting immigration arrests or facing demonstrators. Within a month, the operation resulted in two shootings by federal agents<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DHS withdrew from the operation\u2019s command center<\/a> at Naval Station Great Lakes by mid-November, as did Texas National Guard members deployed to support immigration enforcement officers. The agency in December shifted its attention to Minnesota, where it launched \u201cOperation Metro Surge.<\/a>\u201d That operation has already resulted in thousands of arrests<\/a>, DHS announced Monday. As in Chicago, it has also sparked daily confrontations between activists and immigration officers<\/a> and led to two shootings, including the Jan. 7 incident in which an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, a U.S. citizen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

News of the immigration crackdowns in neighboring states has prompted some in Wisconsin to wonder: Might our communities be next<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Illinois and Minnesota operations have undoubtedly touched Wisconsin \u2014 some immigrants detained in Chicago last fall passed through Milwaukee while in ICE detention, for instance<\/a> \u2014 DHS has yet to devote the same attention to Wisconsin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, Wisconsin Watch has tracked agency arrest and detention records for months, noting a sharp increase in apprehensions beginning shortly after President Trump\u2019s inauguration last January<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\t\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\tRelated Stories<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t
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Trump’s Twin Cities immigration crackdown has made chaos and tension the new normal<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t
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Immigrant advocates urge preparation for possible ICE surge in Wisconsin<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n

Here are some other storylines we\u2019ve followed: <\/p>\n\n\n\n