Ousted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem at Center of Chicago Immigration Controversies

From midnight raids to shootings, Noem was embroiled in many of the controversies surrounding Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago before being fired by Trump.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Kristi Noem, who was fired as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by President Trump, was at the center of many controversies surrounding the aggressive immigration enforcement tactics used in Chicago as part of Operation Midway Blitz. Noem oversaw midnight raids, detentions, and even a shooting incident involving federal agents that drew widespread criticism from Illinois and Chicago politicians.

Why it matters

Noem's tenure as DHS secretary was marked by increasingly controversial and violent actions taken by federal immigration agents in Chicago, raising concerns about civil liberties, the use of excessive force, and the politicization of immigration enforcement. Her ouster signals a potential shift in the federal government's approach to immigration issues in the city.

The details

Noem was involved in a number of high-profile incidents in Chicago, including a raid in Elgin where heavily armed agents detained seven people, including U.S. citizens, as well as a raid in South Shore where dozens of residents were detained and zip-tied. She also faced criticism for characterizing a woman shot by federal agents in Brighton Park as a "domestic terrorist" and for allegedly using detained protesters as "props" during a visit to an ICE detention center.

  • On Sept. 16, 2025, federal agents conducted a raid in suburban Elgin, Illinois in the early morning hours.
  • On Sept. 30, 2025, dozens of armed federal agents descended on a South Shore apartment building in the middle of the night.
  • On Oct. 5, 2025, federal agents shot a woman in the city's Brighton Park neighborhood.
  • In early October 2025, Noem visited the ICE detention center in Broadview, Illinois.

The players

Kristi Noem

The former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security who was at the center of many controversies surrounding aggressive immigration enforcement tactics used in Chicago as part of Operation Midway Blitz.

Markwayne Mullin

The freshman Oklahoma Senator who was appointed by President Trump to replace Noem as the new DHS secretary.

J.B. Pritzker

The governor of Illinois who celebrated Noem's ouster in a video posted on X.com, saying "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago who said in a statement that Noem "will not be missed in Chicago."

Gregory Bovino

The former CBP Commander who was elevated to a leadership position before Operation Midway Blitz was launched in Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“Don't let the door hit you on the way out.”

— J.B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (X.com)

“Kristi Noem will not be missed in Chicago.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago (Statement)

“How did you think that calling them 'domestic terrorists' at that scene was somehow going to calm the situation?”

— Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator (Senate hearing)

“It became very obvious that we were being held because of more political reasons.”

— Juan Munoz, Protester (CBS News Chicago)

What’s next

The judge in the case against Marimar Martinez, the woman shot by federal agents in Brighton Park, will decide on Tuesday whether to allow her to be released on bail.

The takeaway

Noem's tenure as DHS secretary was marked by increasingly aggressive and controversial immigration enforcement tactics in Chicago, raising concerns about civil liberties, the use of excessive force, and the politicization of immigration issues. Her ouster signals a potential shift in the federal government's approach to these matters in the city.