DHS Posts Raid Video As U.S. Citizen Is Cuffed In Elgin; ‘Midway Blitz’ Hits 250 Arrests In Chicagoland

A predawn DHS enforcement raid in Elgin tied to “Operation Midway Blitz” briefly detained U.S. citizen Joe Botello, who was handcuffed and released after ID verification, while DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted video of the operation without noting his citizenship. Advocates and local officials condemned the tactic as misleading and fear-inducing; DHS defended temporary detentions as standard protocol and reported five arrests at the location. Rep. Lauren Underwood said ICE reported roughly 250 arrests statewide since the surge began, with detainees transferred to facilities in Indiana and Wisconsin. The report raises questions about warrant presentation, accuracy of DHS claims about arrestees’ records, and the growing publicity push around the Chicago-area raids.