The most recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the Chicago area, called “Operation Midway Blitz,” started this fall on Sept. 6, and enforcement of current government mandates continue now into 2026. According to the nonprofit journalism group The Marshall Project, around 1,600 people have been taken during these raids so far. The impact is felt here in Oswego, far beyond Chicago city limits.
“We are not safe,” said OH senior Sidney Blanco simply. “Especially because there is so much that is not being said in the news, or out in the media that people know. Not that long ago, I found out that… Renee [Good] got killed [from the raids],” referencing the Jan 7 death of Renee Nicole Good who was shot in Minneapolis, in her car, by an ICE agent.
“[In] Oswego specifically, I know that we have a lot of scared people and a lot of scared citizens… a lot of scared friends and family,” said an OH anonymous resident. “They are afraid to live their daily lives. They [are] afraid to go to the store. They’re afraid to go home at night.”
Residents are impacted in different ways by the enforcement of the current ICE mandates, and each person sees the situation through a different lens.
“I feel like we should get all these violent criminals out of the country,” said OH senior Nick Messenger. “I don’t really support the innocent people who are the only thing they did wrong was coming here illegally. But I do believe, like if you’re coming here illegally, and you’re just gonna commit crimes, you should be deported.”
The village of Oswego, as well as surrounding cities like Aurora, have also raised issues concerning ICE. In a Google survey completed anonymously in the month of Jan., out of 83 students, 72.4% felt that ICE is a concern in their community.
While in light of ICE 48.3% felt safe in school while 44.8% were in between on matter, and the remaining percent said they did not feel safe. 32.2% of students answered yes when being asked if somebody they know has been threatened by ICE while 63.2% were in between.
For example, on Thurs., Oct. 26, there was fear among the residents of nearby Aurora, which led to protests and concerns among the community. Two legal United States residents were arrested outside an elementary school when arriving to pick up their child.After events like this one in nearby Aurora, there have been concerns raised in Oswego.
OH senior Alyana Barajas said, “[Events like this…] impact me because I myself am Mexican. I speak a language that doesn’t seem to be accepted in a quote unquote ‘free country.’ I personally know many naturalized citizens, so our well-being concerns me because they are kidnapping people off the streets who look just like me.”
Barajas is not alone. On Jan. 12-14, the cities of Illinois and Minnesota filed lawsuits against unlawful enforcement, triggering events, and more.
“History keeps repeating itself,” Barajas said, “and it’s solely based on race and economic status and others not liking that there are people who don’t look like them,” said Barajas.Some local places in Oswego have signs saying that ICE is not welcome in their business without a signed warrant. Businesses have strict steps and regulations for their employees to follow when encountering ICE.
For example, signs can be seen posted for student employees at their local Oswego businesses in the event that ICE agents enter: warrants must be signed and dated by a judge, including a time frame for the search, as well as a list of items to be searched and seized.
“I think I would try to get my manager,” said an OH anonymous student. “And [I’d do that] maybe as quickly as possible and [make sure they] stay in the front [of the store],” the source said.
Based on the interview, employers are briefing workers in Oswego to have a general idea on how to manage ICE if they enter their building. After the raid is finished, the number of agents, any actions taken, requests made, and responses to the requests must be reported to any supervisor.
The OH Student Resource Officer was unable to speak to 42Fifty on behalf of the school, but pointed reporters to the Illinois TRUST Act which prohibits local law enforcement from detaining any individual based off their immigration status. Law enforcement is also unable to assist ICE agents with any arrests unless a judicial warrant is presented under this act.
Nationally, the conversation about ICE continues, as it does in the Chicagoland area. Students and residents, like one source who spoke to 42Fifty, agreed.
The OH anonymous resident source concluded, “I expect that if things are going to happen the way they’ve been continuing, that this is going to get really, really bad.”
Editor’s note: Anonymous sources were granted anonymity by request to protect themselves, their families, and their places of business.
Hello! My name is Jessica Bellah and I'm a senior and this is my first year on 42Fifty Staff. I serve as a staff reporter and the Opinions Editor. I am also an editor for our school's yearbook, The Reflector. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
I am a junior staff reporter and Socials Editor for 42Fifty. I love art and music! You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and my putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feekback on our publication.
