Chicago Woman Shot 5 Times During 'Midway Blitz' Was Surveilled by Immigration Authorities: Report

Marimar Martinez was identified as a threat after a social media post, according to a CBP report obtained by ABC7 Chicago.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A Customs and Border Protection investigation report obtained by ABC7 Chicago's I-Team reveals that Marimar Martinez, the Chicago woman shot by federal agents last fall, was already on the government's radar and identified as a threat after a social media post before the incident. The report indicates that Martinez's information was disseminated to personnel involved in Operation Midway Blitz and that DHS databases were used to confirm her identity.

Why it matters

This case raises concerns about the government's surveillance of citizens and potential retaliation against those who criticize or speak out about law enforcement, which could have a chilling effect on First Amendment rights. It also highlights the lack of transparency around databases used to track protesters and others deemed threats by authorities.

The details

According to the CBP report, five days before Martinez was shot five times by Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum in Brighton Park last October, the CBP Open Source Intelligence Team had tagged her as a threat. Her picture and information was then "disseminated to Operation Midway Blitz personnel," with DHS databases used to confirm her identity. The report came from an "ICE watch" Facebook page that claimed an ICE agent working Operation Midway Blitz was also a YouTuber. Martinez's attorney argues that the government's actions against her for her social media activity are unconstitutional retaliation for exercising her First Amendment rights.

  • On October 5, 2025, the CBP Open Source Intelligence Team tagged Marimar Martinez as a threat.
  • On October 10, 2025, Martinez was shot five times by Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum in Brighton Park.

The players

Marimar Martinez

A U.S. citizen who was shot five times by federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago.

Charles Exum

A Border Patrol Agent who shot Marimar Martinez five times in Brighton Park.

Colin McDonell

An attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) who represents two metro Chicagoans whose "ICE Sighting" Facebook page and app were shut down, allegedly due to government coercion after allegations they were threats to agents.

Todd Lyons

The Acting ICE Director who testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security that there is no database of protesters.

Lou Correa

A California Democratic Representative who pressed Lyons on whether the feds are surveilling Americans.

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What they’re saying

“When the government investigates or threatens criminal prosecution or takes, really, any sort of action against somebody for what's clearly protected speech, that's retaliation for exercising your first amendment rights, and it's unconstitutional.”

— Colin McDonell, Attorney, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) (ABC7 Chicago)

“What you can't have is the government being able to crack down on any speech they don't like just by saying that, it hypothetically could lead to some harm. That's an invitation for the government controlling whatever it wants about our speech when we criticize or speak about the government.”

— Colin McDonell, Attorney, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) (ABC7 Chicago)

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security told the I-Team that "ICE tracking apps put the lives of the men and women of law enforcement in danger." It is unknown whether agent Exum knew of the threat report before he shot Martinez.

The takeaway

This case highlights the government's surveillance of citizens and potential retaliation against those who criticize or speak out about law enforcement, which could have a chilling effect on First Amendment rights. It raises questions about the lack of transparency around databases used to track protesters and others deemed threats by authorities.