DHS Rebuts Illinois Democrats, Says ICE Is Targeting 'Worst of the Worst' in Operation Midway Blitz

The Department of Homeland Security pushed back against Illinois Democrats over the weekend, defending recent ICE enforcement actions as part of "Operation Midway Blitz" and insisting the agency is focused on removing convicted violent offenders from communities.

DHS response

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the department felt compelled to correct what it described as a misleading narrative. She emphasized that ICE is pursuing "criminal illegal aliens convicted of heinous crimes," including aggravated sexual assault of children, possession of child pornography and drug trafficking offenses. McLaughlin accused some politicians of trying to "bamboozle the American public" and praised ICE agents for risking their lives to remove "pedophiles, drug traffickers, and other violent thugs" from neighborhoods.

"We are not going to allow these heinous criminals to terrorize innocent American children and families," McLaughlin said.

Cases cited by DHS

To illustrate the agency's point, DHS provided recent case examples that include:

• Cristian Mendivil-Diaz (Mexican national) — convicted of aggravated battery of a child and domestic battery in Illinois.
• Liam San (Burmese national) — arrested in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, after a conviction for indecent liberties with a child.
• Guillermo Guevara-Serrano (Salvadoran national) — convicted of aggravated assault on a minor in Dallas.
• Orville C. Weir (Jamaican national) — convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor in the Fort Lauderdale area.
• Andre Lubala (Congolese national) — convicted of aggravated assault near Philadelphia, Tennessee.

Democratic criticism

Illinois Democrats, led by Sen. Dick Durbin and members of the state's congressional delegation, challenged DHS's characterization. They released a fact-check asserting the agency's public messaging amounted to a "misinformation campaign" and accused federal agents of using excessive force and intimidation during operations in the Chicago area.

Rep. Delia Ramirez directly named DHS officials and called several top figures "vicious liars" for what she described as manipulated information intended to conceal unlawful conduct. Other members of the delegation — including Reps. Jesus Garcia, Bill Foster and Lauren Underwood — said they had observed or received reports of heavy-handed tactics, fear in communities and actions they viewed as undermining civil liberties.

What this means

The exchange highlights a deep partisan dispute over immigration enforcement tactics: DHS defends its focus on convicted violent offenders and public messaging about those operations, while Democrats question the methods used and the accuracy of official accounts. The disagreement underscores broader national tensions over enforcement priorities, community safety and accountability.