Full Breakdown
Operation Midway Blitz’s Economic Fallout in Cook County
9/10/2026, 3:31:25 AM
Core Event
In September 2025 the federal government launched Operation Midway Blitz, an immigration-enforcement campaign that deployed hundreds of ICE and Border Patrol agents across Chicago and its suburbs. Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute estimated the operation cost Cook County $1.26 billion in lost retail and restaurant activity and $107 million in foregone sales-tax revenue during its first year.
Background & Context
The crackdown followed President Donald Trump’s second-term promises to intensify deportations. [ABC 7 Chicago] reported that DHS later cited more than 45,000 undocumented immigrants detained as a result.
Data & Statistics
- Foot-traffic decline: Anonymized cellphone data showed roughly 25 million fewer shopping and dining trips from neighborhoods with high concentrations of Latin-American-born residents to non-Latino areas.
- Retail vs. restaurant trips: Visits to retail stores fell ? 9 % and restaurant visits ? 10 % within the first 19 weeks after the January 20 2025 announcement.
- Suburban impact: Cross-community retail trips in the suburbs dropped 12.8 %, more than double the 6.2 % decline inside Chicago.
- Business losses: Owners in Little Village and Pilsen reported revenue drops of 60 %–70 %, far exceeding the county-wide average.
- Street-vendor impact: Juana Morales, a longtime fruit-and-vegetable vendor, cut daily sales orders by 50 % after the raids.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Yadira Rojo, manager of Supermercado El Ranchito, said customers avoid the store out of fear.
- Angelina Mendez, owner of La Chaparrita Grocery, noted a > 50 % drop in regular clientele.
- Daniela Martinez, a Brighton Park resident, now shops only within her neighborhood after her partner’s detention.
- Michelle Macias, of Carniceria y Taqueria Aguascalientes, described a 60 %–70 % revenue decline, attributing it to “people are scared.”
- Juana Morales said the raids “are destroying families” while her sales halved.
Official Statements & Responses
- Great Cities Institute associate director Matthew Wilson emphasized that the loss represents “truly lost commerce” rather than a temporary dip in spending.
Criticism & Opposition
Community advocates argue the economic damage outweighs any claimed public-safety gains. Fred Tsao’s statement underscores that a “welcoming” approach would better serve residents and the local economy. Little Village Community Council president Baltazar Enriquez has reported ongoing enforcement incidents that sustain fear and suppress commerce.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Detention figures: DHS cites “more than 45,000” detainees, while ABC 7 reports “more than 4,500” and other sources note 2,500 deportations in the first year.
- Criminal-record claims: DHS maintains most detainees have criminal histories; Chicago-Tribune analysis shows ? 80 % of those detained lacked convictions, according to an April 13 letter from ICE’s former acting director.
- Scope of loss: The $1.26 billion figure excludes cash-based and home-based businesses, street-vendor sales, and indirect costs such as delayed medical care, which researchers acknowledge are not captured in the monetary estimate.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The biggest change we see is in the connections between high Latin America–born neighborhoods and the wider Cook County economy,” — Matt Wilson, institute associate director
- “The focus should be on policies and programs that are welcoming of immigrants and enable them to work and thrive in this country,” — Fred Tsao
- “We would like for this to end,” — Juana Morales
These statements illustrate personal fear, the observed economic shift, and the call for more humane policies.
