Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing criticism from the Department of Homeland Security after suggesting that a federal immigration enforcement operation disrupted what he described as the city’s safest summer in decades.
Johnson has repeatedly cited crime data showing that Chicago experienced its lowest number of summer homicides in roughly 60 years during 2025. According to reporting by the city’s NPR affiliate, 123 murders were recorded between June and August, a figure Johnson has pointed to as evidence of progress under his administration.
Data from the University of Chicago Crime Lab also showed that violent crime declined nationwide throughout 2025, including in Chicago. However, the city continued to report higher crime levels than many other major cities globally.
Johnson said those trends changed after the Department of Homeland Security launched Operation Midway Blitz in early September. The operation involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol under the leadership of Gregory Bovino.
“Chicago had the safest summer since 1965 before Bovino stepped foot in our city,” Johnson said last week on X. He added that crime increased in areas where federal immigration enforcement activity was concentrated.
Chicago had the safest summer since 1965 BEFORE Bovino stepped foot in our city. We've reduced violence in Chicago in spite of ICE.
Where ICE was most active, crime went up. ICE shot a US citizen five times and killed an unarmed father.
Abolishing ICE would make us all safer. https://t.co/VHu8IJZBrX
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) January 15, 2026
When asked to respond to the mayor’s comments, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin rejected the claim and accused Johnson of mischaracterizing federal law enforcement efforts.
McLaughlin said immigration officers are currently facing a significant rise in threats and assaults, citing what she described as a 1,300 percent increase nationwide. She contrasted conditions in Chicago with states such as Florida, where immigration enforcement operations have proceeded with fewer public disruptions.
“The danger and violence our law enforcement has faced in sanctuary cities like Chicago, compared to jurisdictions like Florida, is night and day,” McLaughlin said. Her comments came after video circulated showing a woman in Jacksonville being arrested after allegedly interfering with an immigration enforcement operation.
McLaughlin urged city leadership to work with federal authorities, stating that DHS has arrested more than 4,500 illegal immigrants with criminal records — many of them involving violent offenses — during the Midway Blitz operation.
Johnson disputed the department’s position, arguing that crime data showed violence declined prior to federal intervention. He said his administration reduced crime “in spite of ICE,” and later reiterated his opposition to the agency.
In a social media post following his remarks, Johnson wrote on Facebook, “Abolish ICE,” restating his earlier comments on the enforcement operation.
DHS has not announced any changes to federal immigration activity in Chicago.
