DHS announces 'Operation Midway Blitz' in Illinois

(NewsNation) — The Department of Homeland Security announced it would be launching a new initiative targeting criminal illegal immigrants in Illinois.

In a post on social platform X, DHS said the operation was in honor of Katie Abraham, a 20-year-old woman from one of Chicago's northwest suburbs who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in January by 29-year-old Julio Cucul-Bol, a citizen of Guatemala in the U.S. illegally, according to NewsNation affiliate WGN.

Her friend, Chloe Polzin, was also killed in the crash.

"These two young women—college students with their entire lives ahead of them—were killed by an illegal alien who should have NEVER been in our country. This tragedy was senseless and completely preventable," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a news release.

According to the Urbana Police Department, Cucul-Bol has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death, and reckless homicide. He has also been charged on the federal level by the Justice Department with possession of a false permanent resident card, possession of a false social security card, false use of passport, and making a false statement on a bank application.

"This ICE operation will target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets," DHS said.

The upcoming operation comes as the Trump administration has made promises to ramp up an immigration crackdown in Chicago, as well as the possibility of sending in the National Guard. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have previously pushed back on the idea.

DHS added: "President Trump and Secretary Noem stand with the victims of illegal alien crime while Governor Pritzker stands with criminal illegal aliens."